Functional Solutions For Living

Today, we are going to do something practical, powerful and effective.  We are going to do a simple exercise to help us uncover and clarify some of our beliefs. 

Many of us have discussed beliefs in variety of our blogs, so I thought it might be helpful to dig a little deeper within and do some much needed exploring.  We can keep talking about beliefs in the theoretical sense or we can get down to business and see a big part of what makes us tick on an unconscious level.

If we do this, if we take this journey together but also as individuals, I am certain that when we return we will be able to speak and write on this topic with an authenticity that is based on personal experience and therefore, understanding.  

After all, how can we change our  destructive, limiting or outdated beliefs and make the changes we want in our lives if we aren’t clear on what it is we believe?  We don’t need to focus so much on the “why” of our beliefs to change them. But we definitely need to get to the “what” of them so we can effectively graduate to the ”how” of understanding and making positive changes. 

There will be three parts to this exercise.  The first part we’ll do today, the second probably in a few days and the third when we are ready.  Although this exercise is very simple, it does require some  time, thought and effort.  I have done it a few times and had some very powerful and life changing shifts in consciousness and behavior as a result.  

The insights that one can gain from this are priceless and well worth the investment of time and energy.  So do yourself a favor and don’t squander this opportunity! 

Before you begin this exercise, get some paper and something to write with.  I’ll wait right here!

Back?  Okay, now let’s get started.

Start by writing down as many answers as you can think of to the following:

I am…

Life is…

Success is…

People are…

Relationships are…

Money is…

The world is…

Being healthy is…

If there are any other areas of your life that are troubling you, please add them to the above list and do the same.

It is important to answer these questions honestly and without too much analysis.   If you are concerned with the privacy of your answers, then keep them somewhere safe and out of sight.  I actually had an incident where someone close to me read one of my answers to a question in the second part of the exercise and was very hurt and dismayed. 

Fear not on the first part of this exercise.  The second and third parts do ask you to get much more personal, so if need be, treat it like a diary and put it away.

In addition, do not give the answers you think you should give or would like to give such as:  ”The world is a beautiful and friendly place,” or  ”People are my brothers and sisters,” or ”I am perfect and whole,” or any other New Age, positive affirmation type answer.  I’m not saying that your answers need to be dark, just that they should be real! 

The way it was explained to me was that if we really thought these things and deeply believed them, then we would have much different results in our lives! 

When I was given this exercise by one of my teachers, I was instructed to continue to add to the lists over a weeks period and to even carry around a few 3×5 index cards and something to write with in case some sudden realization came up.

Well, that is the end of this transmission.  As a reminder, because I think it bears repeating, please don’t gloss over this extremely powerful exercise and underestimate its profound potential for creating quick, deep and lasting change.  I know many of you have done quite a bit of reading and have learned from some great teachers and mentors, but I promise you that if you do all three parts of this exercise, you will be amazed at what you discover!

Until next time…

Kind Regards,

A