How your beliefs determine your results
Every moment we have over two million pieces of information coming at us. We manage to process a grand total of 6 or 7 pieces of this information. We are massive ‘deleters’ because it’s the only way our minds can function.
Let me explain. Our conscious minds cannot possibly take in all the information that is going on around us. We would be in constant overload if we had to pay attention to everything always. For example, right now you may have a kettle boiling, the air conditioner going, traffic driving passed, a dog barking, feeling the phone as you scroll.
If you were paying attention to all of that all the time, you’d have no space left to focus on what actually matters and can help you.
Beliefs, to some extent, determine what we actually pay attention to. We tend to focus on, notice and pull into our awareness anything that confirms a belief about ourselves or the world around us.
This means that we can only filter in information that is consistent with our beliefs, everything else is deleted, distorted or generalised. You probably have noticed that certain things you expect to happen actually do, regardless of whether they are good or bad. Because what we focus on is what we get, to the exclusion of everything else.
So how do we create beliefs? We create them from our experiences, what we’re told and what we see. They’re also created through what we hear from family and friends and through media.
Those beliefs have a lot of power over our outcomes. They influence what we think we can achieve, what chances we’re prepared to take, our relationships and the expectations we have of ourselves and others. And depending on your particular beliefs they can either help you succeed or hold you back.
How are your beliefs serving you? Are they supporting your success or holding you back?
If you’re looking for some inspiration to maintain a mindset that supports your success or tools to help you set new goals, check out our range of books, motivational cards and goal planners.