Belief Audit 5 Basic Types of Beliefs There are five basic types of beliefs: Most beliefs are neutral they have no emotional charge attached to them. For example, That is a cat. Unless you re afraid of cats or allergic to them, that belief generates no particular feeling positive or negative. We refer to those kinds of belief as facts. You could have more than a hundred thousand neutral beliefs (depending on your experience and education). Every word in your vocabulary reflects one or more beliefs (which we call definitions). Some beliefs are limiting they create limitations in ability or capability (this occurs in the DOING or HAVING realm). I ll never learn to ski is a self-fulfilling prophecy. With that belief, the individual will never put on skis, take a lesson, or find out that they actually do have the capability of learning and enjoying the sport. I ll never have my ideal mate, would prevent you from doing anything that would allow you to have what you want. Some beliefs are negative or disempowering they produce deeply negative feelings of shame, self-criticism, and even self-abuse (this occurs in the BEING realm). I m not worthy of love causes the individual to withdraw from relationships, and can create isolation and depression. Some beliefs are empowering these are also in the DOING or HAVING realm they make it possible to accomplish goals, create the experience of personal power, and bring feelings of goodness. I can create anything I choose and commit to creates an experience of deep self-trust, a feeling of integrity and wholeness, and self-esteem. Some beliefs are enlightening these beliefs are on the positive side of the BEING realm, and they remove limitations on one s self-definition (Who I Am). For example, the belief I am Source or I am God creates the recognition that you are the direct source of your own experience, which is a very enlightening point of view. Commonly Held Beliefs Many negative and disempowering beliefs are quite common, and held by many people. Most of us have one or another version of some of these beliefs. You can dis-create them, one by one, and notice marked improvements in your life. There s something wrong here. There s something wrong with me. I m not good enough. I don t like who I am. I have no value. I don t matter. I am worse than shit. I don t belong. Nobody loves me. I can t get what I need. I ll never have what I want. I am on my own, alone. 1
I am unwanted. I can t win. I m not important. I m not as as he/she is. I ll never be popular like.) What I feel doesn t matter. I can t express my feelings. What I say has no impact. Mistakes and failures are bad. I ll never be able to. I am powerless. I can t do anything about it. My needs are most important. Others exist to meet my needs. I m right. (He/she/they are wrong.) I need to be in control. Belief Self-Diagnosis The Belief Self-Diagnosis exercise is used to help you expose your own subconscious beliefs to your conscious mind. Doing a deliberate inventory of beliefs is a good place to start. It s similar to Alcoholic Anonymous Fearless and Searching Moral Inventory. It is also a good exercise to return to when you are in difficulty, or crisis, in order to find its source. We strongly suggest that read through this exercise first, then do the exercise. At the end of the exercise, you ll choose one to three beliefs that you want to change. Step One: Uncover Your Beliefs Take out a journal or a pad of paper. Contemplate each statement you create, as you write down every belief you can think of in that category. Say it to yourself this way: Something I believe about myself is... Let your thoughts flow and keep your pen moving. Don t judge your beliefs, argue with them, or censor them. Just allow whatever comes up to be written down. Write down all of them that you think or hear, even if they sound absurd or strange to you. When your subconscious talks, it s a good time to listen. Give yourself a few minutes to write freely on each question. Complete as many questions as you can in one sitting try for at least five questions. After you work through the entire process, choose one to three beliefs that you want to change. Come back and explore the remaining questions later. 2
My Belief Statements What I believe about Myself My body My health My work My financial situation My sexuality My abilities My limitations My attitudes My soul, spirit or spiritual self My circumstances God/Spirit/Source Money Handicaps, injuries, illnesses My family My relationships My government The world Good and Evil Truth Life The past The future My beliefs 3
Step Two: Understand Your Beliefs Review the beliefs on your list and circle five to ten beliefs that have the most negative charge for you beliefs that really interfere with your life. Transfer each belief to a new page in your journal or pad. Next to each belief, write down your answers to the following questions: Has this belief been beneficial to me in my life or detrimental to me? Was this belief indoctrinated into me? If so, by whom? Did I ever consciously choose to believe it? If so, when? Why did I do so? What has been the advantage of having this belief? How has it served me in my life? What did I get or gain by having this belief? What did I avoid by having this belief? Who would I be without this belief? What belief could I replace it with that would be more positive, beneficial, and empowering in my life? After completing this part of the exercise, pick three beliefs you would like to change and write them here: 1) 2) 3) Step Three: Create New Beliefs When you dis-create an old belief, what is created is space, a sense of openness, of possibility. You then have the opportunity to install a new, more empowering belief in that space. If you don t fill the space, the old belief can sometimes creep back in. Look at your Belief #1, above. What would you like to believe instead? A good place to start is its opposite, but don t stop there. You can enhance the new belief so that it feels very supportive and positive in your body as well as your mind. For example: if the old belief is There s something wrong with me, you could replace it with, There s something right about me. That belief is better, but it s not really empowering. If you push it all the way up the scale of good feelings, you might come to: I am the light of my soul. I shine with my unique and perfect light. Can you feel the difference? We re going for that WOW feeling. Here s another example. If you hold the old belief, I am not loved, you could replace it with I am loved, which is a good belief to have. But feel what it would feel like to believe, I deserve and receive love from every person in my life who is right for me. Since you get to choose the beliefs you have, you might as well find the most empowering beliefs that you can express, own, and enjoy. 4
Here s another way to think about it: Since every belief produces a specific feeling & experience, ask yourself what experience you would LIKE to have about this area of your life. Imagine having that feeling right now. Now ask yourself, what belief would create that feeling? You ve been living with those old beliefs for decades. Creating new beliefs is a skill that improves with practice (see steps 4 and 5). Take time now and write down the beliefs you would like to have in place of the three old limiting beliefs above. Use the present tense because you are in effect retraining your subconscious and it thinks in the present tense. My three new beliefs: 1) 2) 3) Step Four: Catching, Canceling Old Belief Thoughts and Replace with New Beliefs Step 1: Be aware of (catch) any old beliefs that are not in alignment with your goals or desires. Example: I won t find the partner I want. I don t deserve to be loved. Step 2: Stop and cancel the opposing thought immediately by saying, No, that is not true, or cancel. Step 3: State your new belief (out loud or in your mind). Example: I deserve to be loved and I have an amazing partner in my life. Step 4: Repeat this process of canceling limiting thoughts and restating your new belief statement until the old belief has withered. It will take a minimum of 30 days, and the process (catching and canceling) can occur numerous times a day - but don t stop, and don t give up. Step Five: Reinforce Your New Beliefs Reinforce your new beliefs at least twice a day, starting immediately, through: Visualization: Set aside specific times each day to visualize and feel the emotions you would experience as though you were living the life you want - make your dream and your new beliefs REAL. Affirmations: At least twice a day affirm your new belief statements. Do your affirmations at the same time and place each day so it becomes a habit. Keep going. Good luck! 5