I’m taking today’s Monday Motivation “Change Your Story and Change Your Life” directly from a Tony Robbins seminar I attended in December of last year. So I can’t claim this as my unique topic, but rather my interpretation of something that I found very insightful and life changing.

Everybody has a story. The question is whether it is the best story for us AND knowing we have the ability to change that story.

Most of us do not make a conscious decision about what we believe.

Really?

Yeah. It’s true. Instead, our beliefs are influenced (or given to us) by our parents, society, generalizations based on our past, and so forth. Have you considered that? Think about it. I was blown away when I realized that my beliefs really were not fully my own. Sure, there are some beliefs that are 100% mine, like how I prefer my eggs cooked, or what fragrance candle is my favorite. But so many other “big” beliefs are influenced by what I’ve watched on TV, what my parents taught me growing up, ex-boyfriends (both the good and bad), previous jobs, and literally every major and minor experience in my life.

Common excuses like “I’m just not good at relationships,” or “Only those born rich get richer” or “I’ll never be able to lose weight because…” are examples of stories we tell ourselves that keep us from implementing our goals. Or maybe we implement our goals, but we unconsciously self-sabotage our achieving them because of our limiting beliefs.  Someone trying to save more money might limit themselves by thinking deep down “I don’t make enough,” “I can’t save more,” or “That’s only for rich people.”

The mind is a powerful weapon. It is up to us how we use it. The key is that we must control the mind rather than letting it control us. Think about that. How often do thoughts just pop into our mind and we confuse these thoughts with reality? Or we confuse the thought for an actual belief about who we are? And then we “get in our minds” and go down a path of worry, obsession, depression, confusion, and the likes. Much of that is because, unfortunately, many of us are wired to hone in on the painful experiences and form pessimistic beliefs…which impacts the story we tell ourselves – and that impacts who we become. Do you know somebody who says “…it’s just how I am”?  I am here to say to them, “Well, yeah, it is just how you are, because you believe it – but you don’t have to“.

Why not change our story and change our lives? It’s not obvious until you see the simplicity of it. Pause for a moment and think about it. It’s not some WOO WOO “think positive” message. What is one of your beliefs that you were “given” rather than developed on your own? What if you changed that belief and knocked down any walls you may have (unintentionally) created for yourself? What sort of changes could occur in your life just by changing a belief? The impact is limitless!

Take a moment to identify a limiting belief you have. Need a place to start? Two prevalent ones in society today relate to how much money you make or something to do with your appearance. A third is usually based on an event in your past that impacted you.

What is your story? What do you believe about your lot in life? Are those beliefs empowering you or preventing you from living a happy, fulfilled life?

Identifying this story is the first step in changing your life. The next step is to “divorce” that story and create a new one. It’s not easy, and it’s not an overnight exercise, so developing a strategy to proceed is key.

Personally, I have developed a “mantra” or “affirmation” for two areas in my life where I am working to re-write my story. When I recognize that limiting belief “pop into my mind”, I pop that sucker right out of the mind by replacing it with my mantra. And I repeat that mantra over and over and over again. I find it is most impactful to repeat it out loud when my body is moving so it gets anchored (if you want more info on anchoring Google “Tony Robbins incantations how to change your state”). My neighbors may think I’m weird as I walk or jog down the street repeating the same thing over and over, but I can live with that. I’m changing my story and changing my life. I am also writing these two mantras down (separately) every day at least 15 times. If anybody opens my journal in the future, they may think I was a little obsessive!

I challenge you to try this. Re-write your story. Change your story and change your life.

This is your life. Design it.

XOXO,
Michelle Lynne

P.S. I am also on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Houzz – where you will find more images that don’t always make the blog or the website.