CHAPTER SIX
CHANGING LIMITING BELIEFS TO POSITIVE ONES PREPARATION FOR CHANGING BELIEFS

We normally identify each limiting belief that we find by words such as "I'm unworthy", "I'm weak", "I'm stupid", etc. These words become alive through feelings. As we believe and/or think, "I'm unworthy", the vibratory energy of feelings communicates the belief. To identify this energy, we might ask, "What does it feel like to be unworthy, or what did I feel when I adopted that belief?" The feelings might be anger, hostility, pain, despair, sadness, guilt, grief, apathy, etc.

The unexpressed feeling energy is what gives the limiting belief its force and its power. Until this energy is expressed and released, it will continue to cause the belief to persist and influence our lives. So a vital part of changing limiting beliefs to positive ones is contacting and expressing the feelings as fully as possible. To the degree that these aren't fully expressed and released, it is probable that the limiting belief will continue to influence us. Fortunately, the probability is high that even a partial venting of feelings connected with a limiting belief will reduce its effects. If after expressing the feelings connected with the belief, "I'm unworthy", we continue to feel unworthy, or our experiences indicate that we may still retain some aspects of this belief, or one associated to it, we can make further changes by expressing more completely the feeling energy.

Unfortunately, many of us have either not developed fully, or have lost some of our ability to feel. To keep up with the quickening pace of the world, we have learned to communicate more and more with words, and often without feeling them. To be the most effective in changing our limiting beliefs, we need to find and change our limiting beliefs about feeling and practice feeling.

You may have noticed in reading a book or watching a movie that it is the feelings you create that largely determine how excited you are. Unless you create the feelings of excitement when your favorite team scores, or you read about two lovers caressing, the experience is lifeless.

There is feeling energy connected with every belief. In order to deal with it, we need to relearn our ability to feel. As we do, we will become more effective in changing our limiting beliefs, feel more alive and become more aware of our close connection to our bodies, our mind and the trees, birds, houses, stars, that make up our exterior world. Fortunately, learning to feel more is something that is easy to do, and provides immediate benefits.

So to prepare for changing limiting beliefs to unlimiting or positive ones, start practicing feeling. As you look into the sky, feel what it feels like to be a star, or as you walk down the street, feel what it feels like to be whatever you observe, a blade of grass, a tree, a cat, an old man or woman, a car, etc. By doing this, your effectiveness in changing limiting beliefs to unlimiting ones will increase. So will your general feeling of being in the here and now.

As you practice creating feelings, you may get a sense of where you are creating them. If you do, it can enhance your belief changing. But accept whatever you feel and however you feel it. As you practice feeling more, your ability to do so will increase in depth and become easier.


CHANGING LIMITING BELIEFS

Once you have found a number of limiting beliefs, the next step is to think of an unlimiting or positive belief and express it in the same syntax, i.e. the same sentence structure as the limiting belief. For example, an unlimiting belief to replace a limiting one such as "I am powerless" would be "I am powerful," and not "I am very strong," or "I can overcome anything." It is also important to avoid using negatives such as "no", "not" or the prefix "un" in stating the positive belief, i.e. "I'm not bad," for our subconscious file system has no way to file negatives or an absence of. When filed, "I'm not bad," becomes "I'm bad." To see this more clearly, give yourself the command, "Don't think of an elephant!" Chances are that your subconscious responded by presenting a picture or a thought of an elephant. It has no way to file or present a no elephant.

Ideally, to make the best use of time and to get the best results' concentrate on one type of undesirable experience or symptom at a time, and find as many limiting beliefs as possible relating to the area. Then, tell yourself or ask the person with whom you are working to phrase a positive belief for each limiting belief in the same syntax as the limiting one it will replace. As many as fifteen or twenty can be changed effectively in one sitting.

There are several ways to change limiting beliefs in the subconscious. One way may work better for you than another. Each of us is unique in the way we access our subconscious minds. We may differ in how we visualize or imagine. Some people see what they visualize, some hear it, some may smell it, and some feel it, while others just get the idea of it. Accept and use what works for you. Just spotting that we have a limiting belief, mentally supplanting it with a positive one and affirming the positive one will produce some change in our state of consciousness and experiences in life. The objective of changing beliefs is to achieve and sustain a more positive state of consciousness.

Another approach, which some people use successfully after they spot one of their limiting beliefs is to visualize or sense that the limiting belief occupies a particular space. Then, while focusing their attention in the space, to create the feelings of the belief as fully as they can. As they do, to get the idea that they are creating the belief. Then, when they have done so, to make a conscious decision to stop creating the limiting belief, and in it's place, create a positive belief and the feelings that go with it. As in the previous approach, it is useful as a follow up to reinforce the positive belief by affirming it from time to time.

A third approach produces a deeper, more lasting and sustainable change of consciousness and experiences for many people than the ones previously described. It is based on using a simple entry procedure to gain access to the subconscious belief files. At first glance it may seem a bit more complex than the first two approaches, but once you've gone through the sequence, you'll see that it is quite easy to do and produces lasting changes.

Just as it's necessary to use a particular type of entry to reprogram a computer, i.e., a unique set of signals, so is it necessary to reprogram the subconscious. It responds to metaphoric direction, such as visualizing going deep within the earth as a metaphor for going deep within. Similarly, visualizing seeing and moving through a room of memorabilia is a metaphor for moving through the past. The simple sequence of directions to follow can be put on a tape or easily memorized for use by oneself, or simply spoken to the person with whom you are working.

So to gain entry to the subconscious, and reprogram limiting beliefs to unlimited or positive ones, first get relaxed and allow your mental chatter to subside. Then, follow a simple sequence of metaphoric visualizations. The first of these is that of visualizing going deep within the earth via a tunnel, into a cave, down a stairway, or in a well, etc. To the subconscious this communicates going 'deep within.' People visualize differently, i.e. some get a sense of seeing, or of feeling, while others just get the idea or a sense of it. Any of these are quite workable.

Once the message of going deep within has gotten through to the subconscious, then, after the descent, visualize coming out into a room of memorabilia containing one's childhood toys and all the possessions one has had. Metaphorically, this represents the past. Once these have been noticed, then visualize moving across the room to where an old man or old woman is waiting. This person represents an archetype of a helper and a unique form of assisting energy. Having the humility to ask for help and to willingly receive it is an important element in bringing about positive change. So, as you get the idea of approaching this person, visualize asking for help in finding the room of beliefs, and then, ask the person to direct you to the door of the room. As he or she does, show and feel gratitude, another important element, by thanking him or her. Then move to the door of the room of beliefs, on which you visualize seeing written, ROOM OF BELIEFS.

As you visualize or get the idea of opening the door and looking inside, imagine seeing a brightly lighted room with a table in the center. On one end of it there's a big book and on the other an urn with a bright flame in which to burn things.

In between there's a large writing pen and some small, reminder cards.

Visualize walking over to the large book and seeing embossed on it in large gold letters, MY BELIEFS. Then, as you open the book to the first page, visualize seeing the first of your limited beliefs written on it. (This short metaphoric sequence gains access to the subconscious.)

Give yourself or the person who you are guiding a command to: "GO TO THE TIME YOU FORMED THAT BELIEF!" While you may not be aware of it doing so, the subconscious responds to time commands. After allowing a few seconds for this to occur, give the command: "CREATE THE FEELINGS OF THAT BELIEF; REALLY CREATE THEM". Continue to urge the person you are guiding to create the feelings fully, and to signal by some body movement, such as moving a finger or some other body part, when he has done so.

When the feelings have been fully created, ask the person to visualize collecting the feeling energy and putting it in the urn to burn, or allowing it to float off into space until it is gone. Next, instruct him to visualize writing and saying VOID, V-O-I-D across the sheet on which the limiting belief was written. Then, to tear the page into little pieces, to put them into the urn, and watch them and the feeling energy go up in smoke. Thus this negative belief in the subconscious has been effectively cancelled and destroyed. Even if there are others in the set, their overall limiting effects will have been reduced.

Next, to program the positive belief, direct the person to visualize writing it on the Fresh page in the book. As he does to create the feelings of it with intensity, in order to form a new, positive state of consciousness. Once you have done this, then ask him to visualize writing the positive belief on a small card as he continues to create the positive feelings of it.

When all of the limiting beliefs you planned to change have been changed to positive ones, give yourself or the person you are guiding an instruction to come back, i.e. "ALLOW YOURSELF TO COME BACK." Then to, "NOTICE YOUR SURROUNDINGS:. Later, when you or the person you are guiding brings his attention out of the subconscious to the immediate surroundings, it's important to physically write each belief on a separate small card. Then, to place them later where they can serve as reminders to affirm them. When you see the card, do so, affirming the positive belief. The complete patter for doing this sequence is given in Appendix M.

This whole process to change limiting beliefs to positive ones is so simple that it usually takes only three or four minutes to change each one, but don't rush the process. Allow ample time to create the feelings, and to visualize doing the other actions such as writing the positive beliefs at the speed a person would normally write. If you or the person with whom you are working does the process thoroughly, it will produce a change of consciousness and will generally lead to positive and lasting changes. You can do it by yourself, but it is easier and often somewhat more successful when two people work together, one guiding the other through the visualization.

Working by yourself, a good time to work on reprogramming your limiting beliefs is early in the morning, just as you are awakening, or as you are going to sleep at night. Several limiting beliefs can be found and changed to positive ones in ten or fifteen minutes. Remember to use them as cues to affirm and keep strengthening your positive state of consciousness.


KEY POINTS FOR THE VISUALIZATION PROCESS

There are several important points that need to be emphasized about the visualization process. First, the visualization is a metaphoric journey, which to be most effective must be done with full attention, and as much conviction and intention as possible. So to begin the process, it is important that you or your client get very relaxed.

Second, with the above in mind, accept the way you do it without value judgment. Individuals visualize differently. As you become more familiar with the procedure, it becomes easier and increasingly effective.

Third, really create the feelings with as much intensity and reality as you can. Creating and releasing the feeling energy is an important part of the process.

Fourth, remember that you are changing your state of consciousness' and by affirming the new beliefs whenever you see the small cards, or when you think of them, it will help to maintain and strengthen the positive state of consciousness.

Fifth, recognize that this is an ongoing process, and as you experience life, new limiting beliefs become available. Life is a growth and learning experience, and you will need to continue to use this invaluable tool to continue your growth. If you don't, you are apt to reach a plateau, and stagnate. So continuously observing the experiences you are creating, spotting any limiting beliefs connected with them and changing them is vital for continued growth.


MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE THAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED

Since beliefs are filed in the subconscious in sets or systems, periodically you may want to review the area in which your undesirable experiences are occurring, and find and change other limiting beliefs in the set. It is important to realize that change occurs at the moment that you change a limiting belief, and as a result, your state of consciousness changes. However, in the physical world, it being a time-space universe, there may be some lag before the change is evident in physical experience. Sometimes the person with whom you are working may doubt that he is able to change his experiences by reprogramming beliefs, and will look immediately to the external world for confirmation that change has occurred. If the person doesn't see immediate results, he may begin to doubt his ability to change his experiences, or that changing beliefs will result in change. The state of consciousness that he will be creating will then be one of doubt, rather than of positive expectation. You may have observed this occurring when you made changes in your dress or appearance and felt good about them. Then, doubting your own judgment, you went to someone for confirmation. If this person cast doubts on these changes, since you may have given your power of evaluation to him, then you're likely to doubt that you have really made an improvement. So it's important to assist a person to find and change any limiting beliefs he has about his ability to make changes by changing his beliefs.

It is also important to keep in mind and explain to anyone with whom you are working that it is a person's state of consciousness and vibrations from it that bring about the change. A person may change his state of consciousness and with a very positive focus of attention on accomplishing a particular result or outcome, will do so. When he has, he may want to 'test himself' to see if it was 'just luck' or if he can do it again. Now, he has a dual or divided focus, i.e. "I'll produce the same outcome or I won't be able to produce it." With this divided focus the probability of the person achieving a similar outcome is far less.

So it's important to affirm the positive beliefs. When a negative thought pops to mind, as they often do, gently acknowledge it for appearing and give it a "cancel" thought. Avoid beating up on yourself for having negative thoughts. It has done you a favor by popping into view, and if you follow it's lead, may reveal underlying limiting beliefs. By finding and recognizing your negativity, and as it comes into view, and changing it, you will continue to grow as a being and enrich your experiences in life.