How is the power of perception holding you back? What outdated ideas can you ditch?
1. I need to read for business
We are conditioned to think we need to read all the latest business books and articles to get ahead. In my experience it's the novels, the biographies, non-fiction and poetry, which expand our thinking and allow us to look at things from many perspectives. This allows us to be more creative and gives us an edge of differentiation in business and in life.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
― Dr. Seuss
2.I need to keep to my routine because it's easy and predictable.
We lead busy lives and often we think that we can create balance and harmony by working within a routine. By doing things in the same way we create predictability and lessen our stress.
In fact we are living life by rote and although it may be easier we're not learning, creating or stretching ourselves.
Try to do something new every day. It can be a small thing such as reviewing a different newspaper or magazine; doing a new class at the gym; learning a new swim stroke; ordering something different at lunch; taking a new route to work; listening to music outside of your usual genre; watching a movie you wouldn't normally watch. Get into the habit of trying new things.
"The human spirit lives on creativity and dies in conformity and routine."
― Vilayat Inayat Khan
3."I can't change my mind."
Often we are afraid if we change our mind or our opinion it will make us look silly, weak or indecisive.
In fact it is liberating to look at something from a totally different perspective. It's wonderful how you can look at something or someone who you don't agree with and try to understand their viewpoint. It broadens your scope. Being able to incorporate new ways of looking at things shows that you have the confidence to learn from experience.
"I feel I change my mind all the time. And I sort of feel that's your responsibility as a person, as a human being - to constantly be updating your positions on as many things as possible. And if you don't contradict yourself on a regular basis, then you're not thinking."
― Malcolm Gladwell
4.Fear of Failure
I haven't met anyone, worked with anyone or coached anyone who did not have this self-limiting belief. We don't want to make a mistake; we don't want to look foolish. We feel it's safer to have the answers rather than to ask the questions and show that we don't know.
If you never make a mistake how do you grow? If you don't grow how can you develop people in your business and personal life?
"Play Your Own Game"
-Alanea Kowalski
5."Who am I to think I can do that?"
This is biggest belief holding us back. How dare we reach for those big audacious goals? Who are we to think we can reach for the highest mountain? This one ties in closely with #4 Fear of Failure. We spend all of our time thinking about why we can't do it, instead of, why we can. What if we can? What if we looked forward, but in small steps? What if we face our fears by taking one small step at a time without looking at the summit?
Action has a way of pushing fear behind us and each positive step brings us closer to our goal.
I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend.
-Freddie Mercury
What's the one belief you can change right now? What small step can you take? Do it now.