Pick up a self-help book and most of the time, it doesn’t take long for the author to begin espousing the glories of positive affirmations.
Many of these authors are well-meaning, but in almost all cases, they are just repeating what someone else wrote or said.
The sad truth is that many of these authors pass on what other authors wrote when they have no proven track record whatsoever of it working in their own life.
One book tells you that you’ll get rich if you write affirmations about “having it all.”
Tell yourself, I AM RICH.
Or, I AM A MILLIONAIRE.
As you begin to follow this advice, things often go in reverse.
The authors will then tell you that the reason you’re struggling is because you have “limiting beliefs.” You’re advised to take note of what all your limiting beliefs are, then change them to their positive counterpart.
Thing is, you might have a million and a half negative or limiting beliefs, many of them unconscious, so you’re not exactly about to figure out what ALL of them are, must less record them, so you can reverse them.
Ugh!
There’s got to be a simpler way than this.
And in fact, there is.
Let me begin with a simple question:
What if the notion that you need to change your limiting beliefs was just an idea, and not necessarily an idea that is true?
What if the notion that all these limiting beliefs are keeping you from being rich, prosperous, famous and highly fortunate were, for the most part, a very clever marketing ploy designed to make the author of the book wealthy – but not YOU?
Well, all I can say is, it wouldn’t be the first time someone sold something that doesn’t work – and didn’t care – so long as it made him a bundle.
The reality is that MOST affirmations are a crock of crap.
And most of your so-called limiting beliefs that you’re being advised to fix, aren’t holding you back in the least. There’s no need to fix them because they’re not relevant when you have your mind focused in the most effective, efficient and natural way.
Now, let me clarify something: I am in favor of SOME affirmations. I am not in favor of MOST.
In fact, I have taught thousands of people to do the exact opposite of what the positive thinking books advise, and whaddyaknow, the method I taught worked far better.
Por ejemplo, you’ve probably heard about the three P’s of positive affirmations. If not, the theory is that whatever you affirm must:
Be positive
Be personal
Be in the present tense
This means that you would not say or think, “I’m hungry. I am going to go get something to eat.”
No, no, no. Don’t do that, even though you’ve successfully filled your belly for an entire lifetime doing precisely that.
Instead, be a good little self-help disciple and follow the three P’s.
Instead of “I’m hungry” you should write “I am well fed now.” Or, “I am always eating enough food.”
Now, don’t laugh too hard. This is el Furecat reducing self-help to the ridiculous, and for a reason.
You would never in a zillion years think of being hungry as a negative or limiting belief, would you?
Why? Because it’s the truth, at least once a day, isn’t it?
Why not report the truth then? What would be the harm in doing so?
“Oh, but the gurus say….”
Forget the gurus. Think. Really think about what I am writing to you about.
Why would you write an affirmation such as, “I am a millionaire now” when you don’t even do such a thing for simple everyday accomplishments such as feeding your face (and stomach)?
It appears to me that saying, “I am hungry” and “I need food” is working out pretty well for you.
But maybe this is too complicated. Perhaps we need another scenario for validation.
Alrighty then, let’s say you’re driving around town and you look at the fuel gauge and it says that you’ve got five miles left before you’re completely out of gas.
What to do?
Oh, I know. How about this? “My car is now completely filled with gas.” Or this, “The universe always supplies me with all the gas I need.”
What do you think?
Is that going to put gas in your tank?
I don’t think so.
In fact, I know so.
I don’t even “believe” it to be so. I absolutely, 1,000% percent KNOW that saying, “My car is now completely filled with gas,” makes about as much sense as a fart in church.
If your goal is to travel another 100, 1,000 or 10,000 miles, you better say to yourself something very limited, such as: “I need gas. I’m almost empty. I better stop at that gas station over there (first one you see).”
To be continued…
Here endeth the lesson!
Matt Furey
P.S. Want more on this topic – and soon, then be sure to join my Facebook group – Matt Furey Theatre of the Mind
