Do you believe you can?

Most of us don't question our beliefs, they're just a fundamental part of us that exist beneath the surface. They could have been passed down through the generations, learned when we were children or formed as a result of influences from significant people in one way or another. But what actually are beliefs and why should we look at them more closely?

Beliefs are convictions about what we hold to be 'true' in life. Beliefs are a powerful force that are often behind what we do, how we behave and the outcome we get. If someone really believes they can do something, the chances are they will. But, if they believe it's impossible, no amount of effort will convince them otherwise. This can form the boundary of our thinking and keep us 'boxed in' to our perceived limitations. 

Mahatma Gandhi really managed to capture this concept with his wise words on the evolution of a belief: 

“Your beliefs become your thoughts, 
Your thoughts become your words, 
Your words become your actions, 
Your actions become your habits, 
Your habits become your values, 
Your values become your destiny.” 

We live our lives by beliefs we've learned at some point. These might help us navigate life or could be the reason we hit blocks. Many beliefs are connected to our expectations - if we don't believe we can, we probably won't do what it takes to get us there. If we believe 'exercise is hard' rather than 'exercise is fun', exercise is likely to be hard and not fun. If we believe we're not good enough, we might prevent ourselves from succeeding. In NLP, we call these 'limiting beliefs'. But just as beliefs are learned, they can be unlearned. 

When you really believe something, your thoughts and actions are congruent with it and will direct the outcome. Beliefs plays a very important part in the change process and your ability to achieve what you want. And if you don't yet have evidence, being curious can be a great place to start. As you begin to observe more and understand that not everyone holds the same beliefs as you, you can take inspiration from this - if they can, so can I. 

Dare to believe you can, and just maybe, you will. 

Working with a life coach can help you to understand more about your beliefs, where they come from, whether they still serve you well or might even be holding you back. Discovering more about your inner landscape and understanding who you really are can form the basis of many different directions for coaching, from business coaching and career coaching to personal development, leadership, motivation, relationships and more.