During the President's State of the Union address last week he
emphasized that when Americans are faced with great challenges, "we do big things." In the spirit of that concept, I propose "we do big things" in this small space today...let's look at "belief."
Perhaps when you were small you had a beloved blanket, teddy bear, or stuffed animal. It either went everywhere with you, or
you were secure in the knowledge that it always waited safely
for you beneath your pillow.
It wasn't that the object had any real magical powers; it was
simply that it comforted you.
The power of that object was in your belief. You believed
that the object comforted, calmed, and protected you. And so
it did.
This is how it begins; belief and the power you create with it.
We live our lives based on our beliefs; as Jerry Seinfeld once said, "not that there's anything wrong with that."
The problem, however, develops when your beliefs collide with
reality; when what you have believed no longer aligns with what you are actually experiencing in your life now.
When this occurs you have a couple of options.
You can board the "woo-woo-train-to-airy-fairy-land-and-dysfunction-junction;" distracting yourself with too much
texting, tweeting and technology - or shopping, sexting and substances - in order to avoid your reality. (Warning: this
option usually results in lots of struggling, suffering,
and sacrifice.)
Or, you can choose to take a responsible, realistic, and
rational look at your belief. (Warning: if you choose this
option, you may become a bit enlightened.)
When you look at your belief with a naked eye, you may see
that just like your beloved blanket, it has grown old and tattered; that the holes and tears in it are beyond reasonable repair. And, though you have truly loved this belief - though it soothed you
and comforted you, protected you and even seemed to have magical powers - it has ceased to serve you well.
Perhaps you will see it is indeed, time to "do big things." Perhaps you will see that it is time to let go of this worn, but beloved
belief - and instead open to and embrace a more clear and
accurate reality - so you may experience your life more freely
and fully.
Then you can put the amazing power of belief behind the reality
of your life; and use that power to propel you forward. This is
how you harness belief to work for you, rather than against you.
This is how you become more of you.
This is how you evolve.
This is how you create, generate, and sustain a life you love.
(For more about the concepts in this message, go to "being more of you:
Dear Career Questioner," "Addiction: we're™ all addicts," "The Certainty
of Intimacy: being more of you," & "Energy: the science & spirit of you"
at www.kellygracesmith.com.)
