So it becomes pretty helpful to be flexible in adopting beliefs that support what we want to create.

How do you change what you believe?

If you ask around, you’ll hear things like:

• first you need to identify your limiting beliefs
• your core beliefs are deeply buried in your subconscious, so knowing what they are is challenging but crucial
• you may be getting payoffs from existing beliefs that you want to handle before you change anything
• understanding where your beliefs originated is helpful in dismantling them
• the key to changing beliefs is recognizing the role emotions play in keeping them in place, etc.

There are also a variety of personal development techniques designed to support changing beliefs including Byron Katie’s Work, the Option Method, Theta healing, Psych-K, subliminal or hypnotic programming, guided imagery/visualization, and many more.

Here’s my simple take on how to change a belief: practice it.  It works.

But to elaborate a bit, I’d suggest the following four steps to accomplish that belief change.

1) know that you can and it’s easier than you think.

Some folks think that changing beliefs is hard.  Whatever wiggle room you have to suspect or entertain that it’s really easier than that, take advantage of it.  Changing your beliefs is easier to do when you don’t make it hard.  (And yes, you are in charge.)

Instead, think of beliefs as flexible, malleable, and totally within your realm of power to manage.  I like Abraham’s definition of beliefs for this purpose: “a belief is just an often repeated thought.”  Not such a big deal.  I can repeat a new thought.

2) choose your new belief.

An easy way to pick this one is to think about your manifested desire, and then ask what you would be believing in those circumstances.  (Example, when I was building a coaching practice: “I am a brilliant coach in high demand.”)  Some people like to baby step their way up the ladder of progressive beliefs.  Some like to make the big leap right to the big goal.  Go with whatever feels more energizing to you.

Once you know what you want your new belief to be, you’ll benefit from a two-fold practice:

3) look for the evidence that supports your new belief.

Since we get whatever we look for, we will start seeing the signs that what we want to believe is already “true.” And that makes it easier to make it an official “belief.”

4) practice your new belief.

That just means thinking the new thought regularly and consistently.  Yes, you could call this affirmations or brainwashing or subconscious programming.  All it means is you’re creating and strengthening different neural connections in your brain.  The more you practice them, the stronger they get, the easier they are to think, the more law of attraction shows up to “prove it,” and before you know it you’re home free with a new belief.

We sometimes get tripped up in embracing a new belief when real life contradicts it or when we have to take an action that’s not in accordance with it.

We’ll hit that in the next post.

In the meantime, here’s Abraham on the topic of changing your beliefs:

Would love to hear from you on this one, too, if you’ve got tips or ideas to share.  :)

Electricity, air travel, visiting the moon … once upon a time all were impossible dreams.

But Will says the first step to creating what you want is to believe in it.

I’m inclined to agree, but listen to this story I ran across (compliments of my ex-fiance):

Tami was unhappy enough in her job as an architectural designer that one day she up and quit.  (Or did she get laid off?  I can’t remember.)

Her big dream, though, was to bake and sell original gourmet cookies.  As she researched the requirements to make that dream come true, she realized she was way out of her league.

Tami didn’t begin to have enough money to even think about getting retail space; and didn’t qualify for business loans.

So her dream went dormant because it wasn’t realistic to believe she could ever afford space for her bakery.

But those big dreams of ours don’t do a very good job of lying “dormant,” do they?  (I tried to squelch mine for years, but it wouldn’t quit.  Thank God.)

One day Tami found herself peering through the window of yet another empty building that she couldn’t afford.  “Pipe dreaming,” some folks would call that.

The tenant in the building next door asked if she needed help.  “No,” she said somewhat embarrassedly.  “I’m just dreaming.”

The neighbor said he knew the owner and suggested she call him.  But Tami knew she couldn’t afford it no matter how ridiculously cheap it was.  She simply didn’t have the money.

The guy insisted on taking down her contact info.

About a week later the building owner phoned her.  “Tell me about your dream,” he said.

And she did.

She told him about her huge love for creating original gourmet cookies, and her thrill in exploring new ways of combining delicious ingredients. 

Her passion for this dream was unmistakable.  (Maybe you’ve noticed this kind of passion is very attractive energy!)

And get this … the building owner gifted her the space.

Not forever, but for long enough to get things rolling.  Which they are!  Tami now has beautiful store space in downtown Salt Lake City.

Recently I had the extreme pleasure of experiencing Tami’s dream come true.  Lilly and Maris are my favorites, although my ex is most fond of Isabella.

What I like about Tami’s story even better than the absolutely unforgettable cookies is how her dream was strong enough to survive her disbelief. 

Abraham says the two keys to successful manifesting are desire and belief. 

Tami’s example shows that even when belief isn’t present, if the desire is strong enough Universe will bring you free rent (or something equally as miraculous).   ha!

So with Will’s video and Tami’s story, I invite you to get ahead of yourself. 

Dream the big dreams; don’t worry about how impossible they might seem.  Remember that our job isn’t figuring out “how,” it’s focusing on “what.”

Miracles are right under our noses when we simply let ourselves peer through the window of what we might have perceived as impossible.

PS – if you want to sample love and passion made manifest in cookie form, Tami mails treats.  (And I’m not being compensated for this endorsement.) 

(In fact, if this goes as I suspect, I’d like to have this Q&A be an occasional feature on the blog.  I’ll post your burning law of attraction questions – that many of us have grappled with at some point in time -  and we support our fellow manifestors by pitching in with answers, insights, experiences, support, resources, etc.)

The question that inspired this came in last week from a regular reader who is struggling with relationships.  I knew immediately this group would be excellent at providing support and insights, so I’m officially tapping into our collective wisdom.

Here’s the gist of the note:

How can you believe or be positive about something that hasn’t manifested before and which you really really want – like a boyfriend? I’ve wanted someone for years and none of the guys on offer have been what I want. It’s hard not to think that all the good ones are taken.  How do you build up confidence when you’ve never been successful (i.e. never had a relationship because the guys you like are either taken or not interested)? 

So my question is how do you raise your vibration if you have never been successful and have not even one positive reference point? Most books write about previous relationships and focusing on what you liked about them so what do you do if you have had n0 relationships? How can you not focus on lack and an empty hole?

How can you BELIEVE that something positive will happen if you have had nothing but failures?

Okay, Good Vibe Community … consider yourself officially recruited for this group Q&A project. 

Let’s hear your input for dear Melissa!  What words of wisdom, experiences or resources do you have to share?  (I’ll post a response in the comments as well.)