change your beliefs

Breakthrough Strategy Coaching Change Your Reality - by Jonathan Wells

Jonathan Wells BreakthroughStrategyCoaching.com Page 1

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Copyright 2012 by Jonathan Wells

All Rights Reserved

Published by Advanced Life Skills

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form

whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,

or by any informational storage or retrieval system for any purpose without

express written, dated and signed permission from the author.

Disclaimer: None of the information contained in this book should be

construed as a claim or representation that this book, Advanced Life

Skills, Breakthrough Strategy Coaching, Jonathan Wells, or any of the

techniques, advice, or exercises contained herein is intended for use in

the diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of any physical, mental,

or emotional disease or medical condition. When dealing with any

medical or mental health condition always consult a physician or

mental health professional. The content of his book is intended for

informational purposes only. .

Book design by Jonathan Wells

ISBN 1453843337

For all inquiries please contact Jonathan Wells at

AdvancedLifeSkills.com or BreakthroughStrategyCoaching.com



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By now, everyone has heard the favorite quotes from the Law of Attraction

movement. You know the ones I mean, like

Whatever your mind can conceive and can believe, it can achieve.

~Napoleon Hill

Whatever we think about and think about we bring about.

~John Demartini

Whether you think you can or cant either way you are right.

~Henry Ford

Those are great quotes for sure, but have you ever wondered how your

beliefs actually create your reality? Do you think there is a logical

explanation for this phenomenon, or is it some kind of secret cosmic

mystery?

If you cherish your cosmic mysteries then this might be a good place to stop

reading. Why? Because I like logical explanations, and thats where we are

headed.

It all starts with .

Part 1: What We Believe to Be True

Our personal beliefs play a huge role in how we view our own life. Your

estimation of your successes and failures will depend entirely on the

framework of your personal beliefs. Our beliefs provide a structured process

through which we evaluate everything in our lives.

We develop our personal beliefs about reality based on how we interpret the

world around us according to our observations and experiences. There are

two major components or aspects that contribute to your personal beliefs,

an emotional component and a logical component.



The blending of logic and emotions

.

In some cases, a belief starts out much like a theory. Assumptions are made

based on logical observations and deductions. In other cases, a new belief

grows out of an emotional viewpoint that seems to be supported by logic.

Its the blending of these two major components that form the basic

structure of our personal beliefs. Through the window of these beliefs, we try

to make sense out of the things going on around us. We also use them to

form assumptions about probable future results.

Accepted as facts

.

Once established, beliefs are accepted as fact and are rarely subject to

scrutiny. They become our personal operating system. Much like the

operating system on your computer, our beliefs control how we sort and file

every bit of input data.

Everything we see, experience, think and feel is adjusted to fit with our

beliefs. In other words, our version of reality is a creation of our beliefs. Our

personal operating system disassembles and reassembles all input data to

conform to what we believe.

This is not a conscious process

.

Many of our beliefs were established in childhood and have outlived their

usefulness. Others are leftovers from situations and circumstances that are

no longer relevant. Why is this important?

Well, imagine trying to run your current software on an ancient version of

windows, or some other obsolete operating system. The results would not be

very satisfying. The same could be said of obsolete belief systems that are

still influencing how we evaluate everything in our lives.

Beliefs need to be upgraded

.

As we learn and grow, many of our former beliefs will no longer serve us.

They have outlived their usefulness. In a few minutes we will look at some

effective techniques for Upgrading Your Beliefs.



Before we get to that, its important to understand how our beliefs impact

our current perspective. Thats what we are going to look at next as we

consider your current view of Reality .

Understanding that the mind is only creative can help us grasp the power of

beliefs. George Orwell once said that myths which are believed in tend to

become true. This is especially true on an individual basis.

By now, most of us realize that our perception of reality is heavily influenced

by our beliefs, but the full extent of this influence is often underestimated.

Each of us has a variety of methods for altering our reality so it conforms to

what we believe to be real. Each of us is a reality alteration expert.

So, it is clear that our beliefs provide a structured process through which we

evaluate everything in our lives. Now its time to take that concept a step

further and look at the influence of your beliefs on

Part 2: Your Internal Map of Reality

From the moment you entered this life, your subconscious mind has been

busy collecting and processing information. Combined with your experiences,

this information is used to create your beliefs about who you are as a

person, and how you fit into the world around you.

Because these beliefs are based on your evaluation, and emotional

conclusions of your personal experiences, they are accepted by your

subconscious as being absolutely true. Your subconscious mind then uses

these personal truths to construct your personal version of the real world.

In other words, your beliefs become the foundation of your internal map of

reality.

To the mind, your map is reality!

The way in which your map is constructed will determine many aspects of

your life. It will be a major determining factor in your success or failure,

your happiness or unhappiness, and your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with

your entire life experience.



Remember when people believed that the world was flat? That belief

completely changed the way they viewed and interacted with their world. It

didnt matter that the world was really round. They believed it was flat and

that belief had a powerful influence on their version of the real world. It

changed the way they interpreted the facts.

We customize the facts to fit our map

If we have created a map where opportunity is everywhere, thats what we

will see. When our map is based on opportunity, we wont view challenges as

obstacles because that wouldnt harmonize with our map. So we interpret

the facts in a way that allows them to fit in with, and support, our internal

map of reality.

Heres the catch. For most people the way the map creates their reality on a

day to day basis is completely outside of their conscious awareness. And

because the process takes place on a subconscious level, they dont see how

they are creating their own reality. Instead of feeling like something they

created, it seems like its coming from an external source.

The map is not reality!

We also create an emotional attachment to our map. Its our personal

version of what is real and we have a vested interest in verifying its

accuracy. We want it to be real because its familiar, and that makes us feel

safe and secure. This is why we are willing to distort, or even ignore, almost

anything that might undermine our map.

Despite our best efforts though, sometimes our map of reality comes

unraveled. Usually this involves emotionally charged events that dont fit the

map, and cant be ignored.

Its like basing your map on a flat world, and then discovering you were

wrong. Now your world doesnt make sense anymore and your map falls

apart.



You are not the map

For personal growth to occur, the map needs to be redrawn from time to

time. The reason this change feels scary is because most people dont realize

that its only a map. They feel like their actual reality is imploding. Like their

life is coming completely unraveled.

What is actually happening is their map is being updated to include new

information. Being aware that its just a map, and not actual reality, makes

it much easier to just let it happen. We know that the old map no longer

serves us, and that the new one will. But this awareness requires the

acknowledgment that we are not the map, and that we create the map

based on past beliefs.

New beliefs are the key to a better map

Updating our beliefs automatically changes our map. This is how we create a

more pleasing version. When we systematically dismantle our limiting

beliefs, and replace them with empowering beliefs, the topography of our

map will conform.

When we replace self-doubt with self-confidence, fear with curiosity, or

pessimism with optimism, our map will rearrange itself to support those

beliefs. The world around us will look and feel different, and we will be more

comfortable with our place in it. We will have created a better internal map

of reality.

Letting go of the old map

Next, we are going to take a closer look at how we alter the meaning of our

experiences to fit our map. We will also discuss how we attract people and

situations into our life in an effort to verify the correctness of our version of

reality.

On a subconscious level, each of us is convinced that our beliefs are both

true and accurate. After all, they must be correct, otherwise why would we

choose to believe them, right?



Heres how the dictionary defines Belief: Acceptance by the mind that

something is true or real, often underpinned by an emotional or spiritual

sense of certainty.

We started out talking about how our beliefs provide a structured process

through which we evaluate everything in our lives. Next we saw how our

beliefs become the foundation for our internal map of reality.

Now its time to take a closer look at how we subconsciously alter the

meaning of our experiences and relationships to make sure they fit our map.

We will also discuss how we attract people and situations into our life in an

effort to verify the accuracy of our version of reality.

Part 3: Defending Your Beliefs

Do you know what the granddaddy of all human emotions is? Every person

on the planet has an inherent and insatiable desire to feel safe and secure.

Efforts to fill this desire shape the actions of individuals and the course of

world events.

This is why we are subconsciously programmed to make reality fit our core

beliefs about who we are and what we deserve. When our perception of the

world validates our beliefs, we feel secure in the fact that our view is the

correct one.

Limiting or empowering, it doesnt matter!

As odd as it might seem, we work just as hard to validate our limiting beliefs

as our empowering ones. Why would we do this? Remember, the process

takes place on a subconscious level. Our subconscious does not analyze a

belief to see if its appropriate or not, it just bends reality to make it fit.

Do you see the possible consequences here to our sense of self-worth? If our

limiting beliefs seem to be supported by every experience, how likely are we

to overcome those beliefs? All the logic in the world is no match for real

world validation provided by our version of reality.



3 Ways we bend reality

Lets consider the three primary ways that our subconscious adjusts how we

experience life so that those experiences conform to our map of reality.

1) Attraction. We will attract, and be attracted to, people who confirm our

beliefs. This is why some people experience one bad relationship after

another. They continue to be attracted to people who affirm their limiting

beliefs about themselves.

Something deep inside them believes that they dont deserve to have a

happy, meaningful relationship. This same something is irresistibly

attracted to, and attracts, the very person who will validate their perceived

worthlessness.

2) Interpretation. We already talked about how our internal map of reality

is based on how we interpret the events and situations in our life. If our map

says that life is wonderful, then our interpretations, and our map, are

empowering.

What if our map says everyone is out to take advantage of us? Then we will

misinterpret the events in our life to fit our map. Perhaps we will take

neutral experiences and put a negative spin on them. We may read negative

messages into harmless conversation, or unkind motives into a meaningless

glance.

If we are convinced (believe) on a subconscious level that people are out to

get us, then we will find ample evidence in the world around us to confirm

that belief.

3) Denial. What if we believe that nobody likes us, and then someone starts

being kind, and treating us like a friend? Wouldnt that convince us that our

belief is wrong? Yes, on a logical level it would, but beliefs are usually

immune to logic.

So, how might we respond to this friendly input that doesnt fit with our

nobody likes me map? In a word, denial. We would simply respond in a way

that corresponds to our negative beliefs about our self. See where this is

headed?



If we ignore their attempts at friendship, and treat them as someone whos

out to get us, what will they finally do? Eventually, they will begin to act in a

way that confirms our limiting beliefs, providing validation for our map.

How do we change a limiting map?

As you can see, if our internal map of reality is built on limiting beliefs, life

becomes a great big negative reinforcement loop. So, the question remains,

how do we create a new map that serves us?

The bottom line is this: when you change your beliefs, you change your

map. Building your internal empowering beliefs will transform the way you

experience your life. This will be the subject of part 4: Upgrading Your

Beliefs.

If our beliefs create our reality, doesnt that open up a whole world of

possibilities? So, the next question we should be asking ourselves is: What

kind of reality have I created? Simply by asking that question we are

actually accomplishing two important steps. First, we are acknowledging our

creative ability, and at the same time, we are accepting responsibility for

current reality.

So far we have examined several fundamental ways in which our beliefs

influence our reality. One thing that should be abundantly clear by now is

the fact that the quality of our life is a reflection of the quality of our beliefs

about who we are, and what we are capable of.

Knowing that empowering beliefs create a desirable reality, and limiting

beliefs do the opposite, is a good place to start. Obviously, the next step

needs to be learning how to eliminate the beliefs that dont serve us, and

replace them with beliefs that do. Which brings us to

Part 4: Upgrading Your Beliefs

There is an essential first step that must be taken before we can even think

about upgrading our beliefs. Do you know what that step is? Its simple

really, we need to identify our current beliefs and figure out which ones need

an upgrade.



On the surface, this sounds easy enough. But beliefs are shrouded in all

kinds of confusing disguises. In fact, have you ever noticed that the word lie

is at the center of the word belief? So, how do we get around the deceptive

power of our limiting beliefs?

Look at the results!

The easiest way to identify our own limiting beliefs is to look at the results

they produce. Any area in our life where we are producing good results is

probably anchored to an empowering belief. Likewise, any area in our life

that is plagued with unsatisfactory or frustrating results is likely anchored to

a limiting belief.

The results we produce always reveal the underlying beliefs. Now its time to

examine and list those areas, along with the beliefs and feelings that support

them. These areas are currently emotional liabilities. They are the beliefs

that limit you, and need to be changed.

Identifying your limiting beliefs

Apply the following 7 questions to every area of your life that leaves you

feeling limited, incompetent, unqualified or afraid. Make a list that includes

the unfulfilling activity, and the limiting belief associated with the negative

feelings behind it.

1) What do you feel you are not very good at, and why do you think

that is so?

2) What areas of your life leave you feeling incompetent or unqualified

and why?

3) What new activity are you afraid to try, but would like to? Why do

you feel afraid?

4) What is your least favorite activity, and why do you dislike it so

much?

5) In what area do you want to improve, and what do you feel is

holding you back?

6) What do you avoid helping others with, and why do you feel unable

to help them?

7) When you want to make a good impression, what do you try to

hide, and why?



Dismantling these limiting beliefs

To begin dismantling your limiting beliefs, you need to link them to a painful,

negative, emotional anchor. The more painful the anchor, the more effective

it will be. Start by asking yourself some pointed questions about each belief

such as:

1) What price have I paid because of believing this?

2) How is what I believe affecting me financially, physically and emotionally?

3) Why did I get anchored in this limiting belief to begin with?

Continuing to question the validity and consequences of any limiting belief

will expose a wide array of negative emotional anchors for those beliefs.

Once they come to represent pain, it becomes much easier to move away

from them and move toward more empowering beliefs.

Look for empowering replacements

Next, ask yourself a few simple questions.

1) What would I have to believe in order to succeed in this area of my life?

2) What would I have to do differently in order to produce the results I

want?

3) Which of my existing, empowering beliefs can I apply to these areas of

my life?

As you answer these 3 questions, allow yourself to develop a sense of

certainty that, by changing your beliefs, you will be able to produce positive

results. Make a list of these new beliefs so you have them as a reference.

Review this list often, especially if you find yourself slipping into a negative

mindset.

Look for improved results

Adopting these new empowering beliefs will change the results you produce.

In turn, being alert to those changes will help reinforce and validate your

new beliefs. Soon, your new beliefs will be totally accepted into your

subconscious and be reflected in your new internal map of reality.



Next, we are going to look at the amazing possibilities that exist at the next

level of creating your reality.

Up to this point we have focused mainly on the role of our internal map of

reality. We have also talked about how our beliefs serve as our internal map

makers. Learning to create a reality that empowers us, rather than limiting

us, is certainly a powerful and advanced life skill. This skill, perhaps more

than any other, has the ability to totally transform the quality of our lives.

But wait, theres more!

Creating an internal map of reality based on empowering beliefs is definitely

something everyone should endeavor to do. With that said, I dont want you

to conclude that mastering this ability constitutes the final frontier, because

it doesnt.

In fact, the real key to a life of wonderment and awe is not found within the

confines of an intricately detailed map of reality where every square inch is

ruled over by some established belief. That wouldnt be much fun! The real

key to such a life actually lies

Part 5: Beyond the Map

The problem with being too locked in to a minutely detailed map is that

everything is (seemingly) accounted for. Perhaps this point can be best

made by looking at our earth.

What happens to peoples perception in areas where every square inch of

land is accounted for? Dont they tend to live by, and be restricted by,

precisely drawn boundaries? And doesnt that reality have a way of fostering

preconceived ideas about how things are supposed to be? To a large extent,

those boundaries put very real limits on their life experience.

A different perspective

Now, what happens to our perception of the earth when we view it from

space? About the only boundaries we can still see are the continents and

oceans. And from that vantage point, what is our impression of the planet?



Its beautiful, right?

The point is, too many details and boundaries tend to shrink our focus. They

can easily blind us to the beauty that surrounds us. If everything is precisely

defined, we can quickly lose our sense of wonderment and awe.

Balancing boundaries

What does it take to experience life in a productive and meaningful way, and

still maintain our sense of discovery and adventure? At what point do the

boundaries on our internal map of reality cross the line from empowering to

limiting?

We started by establishing the fact that it is our beliefs about who we are,

and what we are capable of, that are either empowering or limiting. So, once

again, it all comes back to how our beliefs create our reality. Only this time,

we are looking at the concept of limiting and empowering from a completely

different angle.

Treasure Hunting

When you think of a treasure map, what kind of image does that conjure up?

Usually, its a map with some notable place markers, but not too many

details. At least thats how it is in the movies!

Finding the treasure always involves an adventure of discovery. The treasure

hunters have barely enough details to keep them moving in the right

direction. Everything else is discovered along the way. Its an adventure that

keeps them fully engaged and living in the moment.

Your internal treasure map of reality

For life to be an adventure of wonderment and awe, we need to treat it like

a treasure hunt. We need our empowering beliefs to keep us headed in the

right direction. To maintain our sense of adventure, we also need to avoid

the trap of too many precise boundaries and preconceived ideas.



Living beyond the map does not mean that we dont have a map. It means

that we choose to discover the details along the way, rather than try to fill

them in ahead of time. It means approaching situations, people, and

experiences with a sense of open curiosity. It means that we look for the

treasures that are unfolding with each new day.

A shift in perception

When we are truly empowered by our beliefs, life gets simpler. We tend to

let go of judgments and expectations, and replace them with compassion

and curiosity.

When we look at the earth from space, there are no national boundaries,

conflicts, agendas, or disappointments. There is only beauty! Once we learn

to view life from beyond the map, its pretty much the same scenario. Its a

beautiful treasure of wonderment and awe. This can be your reality!

Want to learn more?

http://BreakthroughStrategyCoaching.com

Jonathan Wells is the owner and founder of Advanced Life Skills, the CEO and

founder of Breakthrough Strategy Coaching, and the author of TRUE SELF.

change your beliefs

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