My #1 Belief
This month, I celebrate the women who have influenced my beliefs. I especially celebrate my mother.
Hello, joyful community!
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and I couldn’t be happier to be spending it in Mexico, the country where I (as a Mexican-American woman) shaped my earliest beliefs and views of the world.
I want to honor the most important woman in my life, my mother, by sharing the #1 belief she instilled in me. This belief has been the key ingredient in helping me shape my most joyful life and career.
Our beliefs determine how we perceive any circumstance in our life.
They determine whether we see life through a “win or lose” lens, or whether we see life through a “win or learn” lens.
Our beliefs determine how easy or difficult it feels to take action in service of our goals.
This week’s coaching question is:
What is one belief about your current circumstances that makes taking action feel difficult?
Here’s an example of how our beliefs influence our actions (and therefore, our results):
Say your goal is to become healthier. You might think that eating better food and moving more is the way to achieve that goal.
But, we all know that it’s not as simple as just eating better and exercising more (otherwise, we’d all be practicing healthy habits all the time!). To become healthier (or attain any other goal), we need to examine the beliefs that influence how easy or hard it is to take the action.
”Ugh, I’m so fat” vs. “I nourish my body with nutrients” are two different beliefs that might propel us into the actions of eating better and moving more. The biggest difference is that the first belief is riddled with a saboteur, punishing energy; the second thought is driven by love.
Which of these two beliefs might support you most in taking action in a way that is sustainable and consistent?
The first belief might propel you into action in the short term (out of frustration and shame), while the second belief will keep you in action over time (out of empathy and love).
In life, we can choose which types of beliefs best serve us: those that riddle us with saboteur-type energy, or those that serve us with love.
When we choose love-driven beliefs, taking action gets easier.
When taking action feels easier, we are more likely to do the things we need to do to achieve our goals.
My #1 Belief
I invite you to examine what beliefs about your circumstance are getting in your way of reaching your goals.
Not the actions, but the beliefs.
Then, consider what new beliefs might support you more.
There is one foundational belief that has challenged saboteur-led thoughts throughout my life.
It’s the one belief that I attribute all my results to - from building a career I love, to making money, to creating a traveling lifestyle that gives me so much joy.
This is the belief that my mother, Jan, has instilled in me since I was little:
You can do anything you set your mind to do.
Growing up in a heavily patriarchal Mexican society meant that there were certain expectations of the roles women should play vs. those of men.
My mother, a young American who moved to Mexico on an adventurous adolescent whim, strongly believed that her daughter should not just know, but believe that she could do anything, regardless of gender or where she lived.
“Karla, you can do anything you set your mind to do,” was a phrase I heard often growing up, as I struggled through self-doubt and life-shaping decisions.
Believing that I can do anything I set my mind to helped me feel:
Empowered
Resourceful
Strong
Determined
Confident
Energized
When I think “I can do anything I set my mind to” and experience those emotions, taking action feels easier.
Through energized, confident, determined, and strong action I was able to build a career I’m proud of.
Through energized, confident, determined, and strong action I was able to leave that career to build my own business.
Through energized, confident, determined, and strong action I was able to create a traveling lifestyle that gives me a lot of joy.
Through energized, confident, determined, and strong action I show up for my clients believing that THEY too, can do anything they set their minds to do.
They simply need belief.
When they believe in themselves, taking action is easier.
What is one belief about your current circumstance that is making taking action feel hard?
What is one new belief you can try on instead?
Feel free to borrow mine.
My belief can be your belief because you, too, can do anything you set your mind to do.
Let’s celebrate ALL the women in our lives that have taught us powerful beliefs.
Which women in your life have influenced your beliefs?
What is a powerful belief that a woman in your life has instilled in you?
Let me know in the comments!
P.S. Later today (at 2 pm central), I’m hosting another (free) “Open Hour” to Share & Listen - one hour when anyone who has recently been laid off can join to process what they’re experiencing and feel connected with others going through a similar situation. As a transitions coach, I will ask a few questions to help you reflect and share.
You can register for this hour via the button below.
Your mother is a wonderful being to have instilled such a strong and useful belief in her daughter !
For my part, as a freelancer, one phrase I keep taped to my workspace is:
"There is plenty of work available out there, you just have to put yourself in its path so that it can find you!"
I repeat that phrase to myself because I am in the process of replacing old beliefs that maybe I'm not really good enough or maybe there's no work in my field, or whatever other excuse I may have when I am feeling unsuccessful !