See Yourself However You Choose

“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are — or, as we are conditioned to see it.”

– Dr. Stephen Covey

One of the great things about our having an incredible mind is that we can use it however we choose.

We can use it to think loving thoughts about ourselves and others, or use it for the condemnation of both.

Either way is our choice.

Many of us never ask ourselves how we came to feel about ourselves the way we do. Usually, we are conditioned to see the world and ourselves in a certain way based on the environmental influences of our parents and peers.

Unfortunately, many of us have drawn faulty conclusions or adopted disempowering beliefs that were based on our interpretations of others behaviors toward us.

For example, if a caregiver was harsh in their treatment or words toward us, we may have interpreted that behavior as having to do with our being unlovable, instead of understanding that they have an issue with appropriately expressing themselves.

However, as we grow into adulthood, we become increasingly accountable for developing our own belief systems and changing the lens we have been looking through.

After all, what we choose to believe about ourselves has immense consequences in how we behave in the external world and how we feel in our internal world.

Fortunately, since our beliefs are learned, they can be unlearned and reconditioned in our favor. This is often easier said than done because our beliefs have become so ingrained and are such a part of us due to repetition in our thoughts.

However, writing down our own personal history or story can help us find and uproot any limiting beliefs that may be hanging out in our subconscious mind.

This exercise can be a fun adventure like a scavenger hunt.

Gaining awareness of what is not serving us can be an incredible gift toward challenging distorted beliefs or upgrading any thoughts that might be making us feel bad.

Once we locate a belief that is not serving our highest good, we can repeat an empowering refrain such as ‘I am willing to release this negative belief, and replace it with something more beneficial to my highest self.’

Since repetition got us into the beliefs we currently have, repetition can get us out.

What phrase will you repeat?