How often have you said to yourself “I’ll believe it when I see it”? What if you were to turn this on its head so that it becomes “I’ll see it when I believe it”?
Henry Ford once famously said:
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”
It’s true – very often we start with a negative belief about our ability to do or accomplish something and then prove ourselves right! Beliefs are simply ideas that we are holding to be true but problem is, we act as if they are facts.
I have had many experiences of the power of changing a belief. I particularly remember the time when inspired by visioning and goal setting activities we undertook on the ACT Course I decided that one of my goals for that year would be to spend more time enjoying creative pursuits. One of the first steps I took was to start attending the weekly Wednesday “Crafternoon” sessions at Lechlade Craft Barn.
At these sessions, I met lots of talented, supportive and encouraging new friends working on a wide variety of arts and craft projects. On one occasion I was drawing a zendala whilst in conversation with a lady who was crocheting a cushion cover. She asked me what other arts & crafts I was interested in. I responded by saying that over the years I had tried most things – papercrafts, origami, jewellery making etc. but that I was no good at knitting or crochet.
There is was – a limiting belief! And worse, I then went on to justify and explain it. I told her that my mum had tried to teach me when I was young but that she had given up on me because as a right-hander it was difficult for her to teach a “leftie” like me. From that point on I had accepted that I could not knit or crochet as a FACT.
So I thought I’d challenge that belief using the belief change cycle.
Step 1 – Create doubt.
First I thought – there must be lefties who crochet out there, which means that it must be possible. A quick YouTube search proved this was the case – there were dozens of tutorial videos. It was then a short leap to “If they can do it, so can I”. Next step was to take action, a quick trip to the local craft shop saw me kitted out with some cheap wool and a crochet hook. I looked at some beginners crochet patterns but they seemed to me like reading a page of Egyptian hieroglyphs. So it was back to YouTube for a tutorial. Within an hour I had tried out all the basic stitches – perhaps I could do it after all! I bit more practice and that was it – I was now starting to believe I could do it.
Step 2 – Reinforce the new belief
The new belief was starting to take root but there was still some doubt, doing the stitches was one thing, but actually creating something using them seemed like another leap. Remembering back to when I was a child, the thing I most wanted to make was a poncho, all my friends had one – it was the ‘70s after all! Whilst I have certainly outgrown this wish, after another trawl of the internet I decided that a lacy wrap would be the closest grown-up equivalent. So off I went to the wool shop again and this time came back armed with some gorgeous heather and grey striped wool. I stuck with it even though it was difficult at first – I could see that the result would be worth it.
Since that first effort I have become hooked (pun intended!) – I really CAN DO IT! Even better, I have now taught others, have sold many items and have even started writing patterns myself!
In the grand scheme of things, this might not be the most significant belief to have created, but it has served as a timely reminder of how powerfully beliefs drive our experience and our behaviours – and how to create more useful beliefs.
What beliefs are holding you back? How could you create some doubt?
