You are who you think you are.

Posted: Oct 16, 2015

Many people feel they have the ability to succeed in some areas of their lives but not in others. However, everyone has inside them the ability to be a natural achiever who consistently attracts luck and success in every area of their life. The way to release this ability is to change the way you think about yourself and bring your self-image into line with the way you want your life to be. Your self-image is the foundation upon which your life is built. If you want a happy, successful, abundant life then you must see yourself as a happy, successful, talented and lucky person. To put another way, your self-image is your personal blueprint for success.

The thing to remember is that your self-image is no more fixed and absolute than what you will have for breakfast tomorrow morning. You could wake up tomorrow and decide to have champagne and peaches instead of tea and toast. And it’s the same with your self-image.

The way you think about yourself determines everything you say, feel and do. Your view of the world around you is always a reflection of your inner world.For example, if you believe that you are not very physically attractive then your external world will confirm this internal belief. Without realising it you’ll notice and collect evidence which supports your belief, such as criticism of your looks, whilst ignoring or dismissing anything that doesn’t match your belief, for example a compliment. Whenever someone looks at you you’ll see criticism or pity even when they were actually feeling admiration or even envy.

Your self-image is created and shaped by your deep-seated self-beliefs and these can be either positive and empowering or negative and limiting. Once you are aware of your negative and limiting beliefs you can start to change them. As you strengthen your self-image by reprogramming your subconscious and bringing your life into balance with your core values and beliefs you will redraw your blueprint for success and start to change your whole life. After all, it’s extremely difficult to live a negative life with a positive mind set!

Starting the process of change

To kick-start the process think about each of the following four statements and then jot down your answers:

“Five things I learned about myself from my mother are … ”
“Five things I learned about myself from my father are … ”
“Five things I learned about myself from school are … ”
"Five things I learned about myself from (another early authority figure) are … ”

What you’ve just jotted down are all other people’s images of you. They may be right or they may be wrong but either way they don’t need to be your images of yourself!

Now focus on the ways in which you think about yourself and complete the following two statements:

“Ten limiting beliefs I hold about myself are … ”
"The three limiting beliefs that hold me back the most are … "

Your answers to these last two statements will signpost for you some of the most restrictive beliefs you hold and the most damaging ways in which you see yourself. The three most limiting beliefs, in particular, have a powerful influence over the way you shape your life. When you choose to change those beliefs you will no longer be at the mercy of your past.

So, who do you want to be?

To get the ball rolling, jot down the seven qualities you most admire in other people. Look at your friends, family, acquaintances and even people you’ve never actually met or only met once. Think about why you were attracted to them and which of their personal attributes made you like them.

Thinking now about yourself, “write down the seven qualities that you would most like to be known for ... “

Having done this you are ready to create your own personal mission statement by completing the following two statements:

“From today I am choosing to be someone who is … ”
“The qualities in me that I most want to emphasise and enjoy are … “
Write them down on a new sheet of paper and then add the following statement:
"From today I am ready to give life to this new image of me. I am committed to reinforcing these qualities until they are a deeply ingrained part of who I am and who I am seen to be.”

Sign and date your three statements and put them somewhere visible. Read them regularly and constantly replace your old unwanted beliefs with your new beliefs through simple repeated positive affirmations.

Now when you are faced with a choice or a decision, or a situation or challenge, you can ask yourself - “Given the person I am now becoming, what’s the right choice or answer for me?”