Did you know that 90% of our beliefs are subconscious? That means we are REACTING to situations out of HABIT (the “supposed-tos” that have been programmed in our minds for years), rather than CHOOSING consciously in a way that BEST supports our lives. We go around our days making hundreds of decisions we don’t necessarily want to do or even like to do because we’re “supposed to” or we “should”.
Are You Holding Yourself Back?
While some “supposed tos”, like speed limits, make complete sense because of safety, so many others don’t serve us. Have you ever:
- lost money in an investment because you went with what everyone else was doing, even if your instinct told you differently? (aka: it must be right if everyone else is doing it)
- spent more than your budget on a brand name product because of appearances? (aka: notice ME, I look like everyone else)
- given your kids behavior instructions before going to someone’s house for not wanting to be judged? (aka: whatever you do, DON’T be yourself!)
- eaten beyond being full at a restaurant? (aka: I may be watching my weight but I paid good money for this, darn it!)
- been upset with your spouse because of something they didn’t do? (aka: they should have just known what you wanted them to do to make you happy, even though they did something different, but that didn’t count because if they loved you they should know what you like)
Realization is the first step, so laugh about it! Mistakes are not life sentences, they are opportunities to grow.
When was the last time your examined your perceptions? How often do you say, “I should…”, “you should…”, “they should…”? If this is you, then you are limiting yourself and creating stuckness! Yes, I declare “stuckness” to be a word, and even if my editing software draws a squiggly little red line under it, I choose to NOT feel as though I should change it.
Getting UNstuck
The opposite of stuckness is freedom! Choice is freedom! And yet we so often give up choice for habit. There’s a great line in a RUSH song that goes, “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” What a great insight… so by NOT choosing to do something different, we are still choosing. We are choosing to LET life happen TO us rather than CREATING it ourselves the way we want it. Either way, we are the sum of our choices.
Good news! Getting Unstuck is kinda easy when you get the hang of it. Wrapping your head around the concept and arming yourself with some “should-smashing tools” to use on a daily basis is all it takes. Regardless of WHERE your stuckness is; finances, career, relationships, health, parenting, etc., your best life is there for the taking… as soon as YOU are ready to take it!
To your success,
~ Jenifer
