I wake up in a room that is white, and bright with sunlight. The windows are open and the light breeze in blowing the curtains. I am with my husband, the love of my life, and our room is decorated with photographs we took. I’m really happy.
Lesson 3: You Become What You Believe
How would you fill in these blanks?
The one thing I wished I had become is ____.
The one thing I will become is ____.
The one thing I wish I had become is: enough.
The one thing I will become is: my best self.
1 Close your eyes and “fast forward” to a moment 5 years from now, when you are living your best life to its absolute fullest. Describe the room where you wake up—where is it, how is it decorated, and who is there with you?
2 Think of something you wish to make happen— and in your mind create a concrete symbol to represent that wish coming true. What did you wish? What is the symbol?
The first thing I thought of was to stay strong. I mean this in the sense that I’ve learned so much and come such a long way that I always want to hold my ground. I know there will be turbulent times ahead, and people will challenge my choices, and I don’t want to let them set me back. I never want to go back to square one. I want to fight through the storm and hold my ground. My symbol is a stake in the ground surrounded by high winds.
3 What is the feeling in your body as you imagine this wish coming true? Feel for ways to shift and reshape your vision until it feels possible and peaceful. In fact, it’s most likely to happen if it feels like a done deal—normal.
I honestly feel happiness. I can see a smile on my face, even as I’m going though the storm. I know that once the storm is over, I will know I made the right choice for me and be very proud of myself. The people who truly love me and don’t judge me will be standing by my side in that moment.
4 What is it you know you can do, with your eyes closed on your worst day? Thinking about your falling-off-a-log-easy skill, how might you see that leading not just to pleasant outcomes, but to huge success?
Tweet? haha I don’t know. I’m not sure how to answer this.
5 To find out what you truly believe, write a description of your life situation—the people around you, your circumstances, and “blind spots” where your self-concept fails to align with the beauty of your real self.
My current life situation is me, living alone. I work hard and stay busy. I am involved in many things. I am searching for happiness and meaning. I like to reflect and work on myself. I am surrounded by a judgmental family and many acquaintances. I have met some great people but still feel alone to some extent .Sometimes I’m lazy and a mess. I always mean well. I’m always thinking. My job is great but I sense it becoming more stressful.
I think my self concept tends to be harder on myself. I don’t usually give myself enough credit for all that I do, or try to do. I’m too busy trying to be better to stop and tell myself I did a good job. I also don’t make enough effort to nurture the good relationships I have in my life.
6 Look back on your previous answer, and investigate the beliefs that correspond to your life’s worst elements. Rethink those beliefs.
7 When Oprah’s grandmother said she’d be hanging out clothes as an adult, Oprah knew it wasn’t true. When has a negative statement called forth a strong feeling in you that said, “No, this person is wrong. I am meant to succeed”?
This is pretty much every day around certain family members. No one has ever flat out said “You won’t be anything,” but thy also never really build you up. There is a lot of guilt thrown around or negative words & name calling to make sure you feel like you’ve done something wrong and aren’t good enough. It’s taken me a long time to be the support to myself I wish these people had given me.
8 In J.K. Rowling’s first book, someone says of Harry Potter, “One day every child in the world will know his name.” What offhand remarks have you said—or heard someone else say about you—that turned out to be a sort of prophecy?
Hmm this is interesting. I will have to think about it more. Nothing is coming to mind at the moment.
9 Are your actions in alignment with what you say you want in life? Where are you staying in a situation where other people are treating you badly, waiting for them to change? Passivity in a situation of injustice creates a damaged life.
I used to do this a lot. When yo play the victim, you expect people to change and provide you with happiness. You have to be that for yourself. I am still a little bit bitter and resentful, but I’m working on changing my story. I am trying hard to be the change instead of waiting for someone else to change. I believe you have to love people exactly where they are at without wishing they change. I’m working on it.
10 Do you undermine yourself by thinking, “I’ll never…” or “that doesn’t happen for people like us”? Instead, find examples of times your negative belief was wrong. Focus on the places where your life plays out in defiance of your negative beliefs.
I do this with dating a lot. I generalize all guys as the same, and it’s usually with some negative quality. The more I think this way, the moreI draw those people into my life. But I do know some that aren’t. And usually when I’m in a situation where I end up thinking a guy is a jerk, it can also be contributed in some part to the choices I made. I allowed myself to be in the situation or treated that way. Now, as hard as it is, I don’t ignore the truth I really know right from the beginning. It seems hard in the moment to make decisions this way, but I know it’s saving me heartache in the long run. And it’s bringing me the man who is exactly the opposite of all the negative opinions I have stacked up in my lifetime.
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Daily-Life-Work-Lesson-3-You-Become-What-You-Believe_1#ixzz1ivQgfIRj
