How do you increase your belief?

Question

So what I'd love to know is how you increase your own belief in what you are capable of accomplishing.  As I look at those that are most successful in life…not just in terms of money but relationships, personal growth, and general trajectory of their life it seems that they have this unshakable belief that what they want to accomplish will happen.

If I'm being completely honest I seem to ride the waves of life…sometimes having absolute faith and then other times not having any at all.

So here's some questions for you:

When you ride these same waves of life, how do you pull yourself out of the rut?

How do you expand what you believe you are capable of accomplishing?

Brian Gibbons · Answer

Hi @Douglas Dowell, how's my fav attorney in CO?

when I was 25 yrs old, just out of the US Marines, my boss who bought and sold 3 properties a week said:

"If you believe you CAN succeed or you believe you will FAIL, You Are Right!"

I negotiated with 4 to 5 sellers a day, 6 days a week, for 2.5 years, over 125 weeks, over 1000 days, did no marketing, had secretaries confirm "sits" or appointments, my job was to listen to the sellers' stories and write up a letter of intent to purchase or lease

I learned Rei by doing and watching and listening to lawyers and accountants

I was trained, plain and simple.

After those 2.5 years working for someone for $500 a week, and my boss made 10s of thousands, I started my own Llc, my first company.

Listen to Jim Rohn, rip; There is nothing better for self improvement and lasting motivation

Common sense plus prudent action = power

Have power

Brian Gibbons · Answer

Action vs. Self-Delusion by Jim RohnKnowledge fueled by emotion equals action.  Action is the ingredient that ensures results.  Only action can cause reaction.  Further, only positive action can cause positive reaction.Action.  The whole world loves to watch those who make things happen, and it rewards them for causing waves of productive enterprise.I stress this because today I see many people who are really sold on affirmations.  And yet there is a famous saying that "Faith without action serves no useful purpose."  How true!I have nothing against affirmations as a tool to create action.  Repeated to reinforce a disciplined plan, affirmations can help create wonderful results.But there is also a very thin line between faith and folly. You see - affirmations without action can be the beginnings of self-delusion.  And for your well being, there is little worse than self-delusion.The man who dreams of wealth and yet walks daily toward certain financial disaster and the woman who wishes for happiness and yet thinks thoughts and commits acts that lead her toward certain despair are both victims of the false hope which affirmations without action can manufacture.  Why?  Because words soothe and, like a narcotic, they lull us into a state of complacency. Remember this:  TO MAKE PROGRESS YOU MUST ACTUALLY GET STARTED!The key is to take a step today.  Whatever the project, start TODAY.  Start clearing out a drawer of your newly organized desk...today.  Start setting your first goal...today.  Start listening to motivational cassettes...today.  Start a sensible weight-reduction plan...today. Start calling on one tough customer a day...today.  Start putting money in your new "investment for fortune" account...today.  Write a long-overdue letter...today. ANYONE CAN!  Even an uninspired person can start reading inspiring books.Get some momentum going on your new commitment for the good life.  See how many activities you can pile on your new commitment to the better life.  Go all out!  Break away from the downward pull of gravity.  Start your thrusters going.  Prove to yourself that the waiting is over and the hoping is past -- that faith and action have now taken charge.It's a new day, a new beginning for your new life.  With discipline you will be amazed at how much progress you'll be able to make.  What have you got to lose except the guilt and fear of the past?Now, I offer you this challenge:  See how many things you can start and continue in this -- the first day of your new beginning.

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

To receive more information about Jim Rohn and/or to purchase his best-selling audios and books go to http://www.jimrohn.com.  Copyright (c) 1999 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.Provided courtesy of  Jim Rohn International

Kenneth LaVoie · Answer

EXCELLENT QUESTION! I have noticed in my life, (and watching others) that success begats success. When you're running on all cylinders, sh*t just can't seem to go wrong. I've been self employed for all my adult life and I still remember once when I bagged my biggest landscape account, the phone rang off the hook after, and I seemed to get every job I bid on. I quadrupled my size that year.

I do believe that the BEST AND EASIEST way to strenghthen your belief is to see evidence of what you're trying to believe in. Duh, right? So deciding to do "x" and accomplishing "x" then moving onto "y" and nailing "y" whil help you believe that you'll also bring home the kill when you tackle "z".

The difficulty is, "how do I increase my belief that I'll accomplish Z when I really mucked up X and Y? In this case, I think that what HELPS is meditating, and sending that intention while you do. Self talk like "I'm just one of those guys, when I say something's gonna happen, it' happens." I think this works. No, I KNOW it works. But you've got to use YOUR OWN language. Don't use silly boiler plate stuff like, "I am deserving of abundance...everythign I desire flows to me with ease..." Nobody talks or thinks like that so it's not genuine. You've got to really nail it. "I'm a f***ing monster! Everything I brush up agains turns to gold! Get outta my way!" That sort of thing...whatever's genuine to YOU.

Also, simply believing, in your heart of hearts, that believing in yourself helps make things happen. (it does). You'll tend to be more careful about what you think and say when you believe that it matters what you think and say.

Hope this doesn't come across as too "new agey" but I sincerely and completely believe that what we ask for will come to us. Strenghth of belief, right action, and get out of God's way."

Aaron Wyssmann · Answer

@Steven Thomas Thanks for reviving this post from quite a while ago. I'm loving the comments.

@Brian Gibbons Thanks for sharing some great Jim Rohn, one of my favorites to listen to for sure.  There is so much good in what he wrote and spoke about.

Another of my favorites is Zig Ziglar.  About six months ago I started reading his "Self Talk" card to myself at least once a day and it has made a huge difference.  I started noticing the language that I not only told myself in my head but actually said out loud. I started catching myself saying things like, "You idiot" when I would make a mistake at something.  That may seem like a small thing but the result of that I know was not good.  I've since taken that completely out of my vocabulary.

Brian, I also completely agree with the point that while all this head stuff is important, that if we don't follow it up with action it won't matter.  I've have resolved to taking more action and is making a huge difference.  I always thought that it was difficult to find a deal and now I see them all over the place, they are not at all hard to find.

Douglas Dowell · Answer

Thanks for the mention @Brian Gibbons.

I think the post would be flawed if we failed to mention Think and Grow Rich. The concepts are 100 years old but the principals remain accurate imho.

Account Closed · Answer

I think its natural for everyone to have moments of doubt or times when they seem stuck in a rut. I've been blessed with an amazing wife, family and friends who are a great support system for me and are always encouraging me and telling me that I can do the things I want to do in life. This definitely helps getting the positive reinforcement. If you don't have a support system like this, BP definitely seems like a place to get encouragement.

Another thing is whenever I am having a down moment or think I'm not capable of taking the next step I take a moment to reflect, not on where I want to go in life, but where I've come from.  @Aaron Wyssmann  Im sure you've have some major milestones in life that at one point you didn't think were possible or you didn't think it was capable for you to do. I remind myself that at one point I was down on myself before I had a major accomplish/milestone and then encourage myself that if I could accomplish that then I am capable of accomplishing the task in front of me or the next step I want to take in life.

At the end of the day probably everyone on this site already has it better than most in life and it helps to count your blessings and realize that you shouldn't be down on yourself. Maybe this one doesn't necessarily increase my belief of success, but eliminates my fear of failure.

Ryan Billingsley · Answer

Great topic!  In my opinion the people who are the most successful and driven have a clear vision of the goals they want to accomplish.  They can envision the end result and picture themselves achieving their goals in celebration.

The most successful people are focused on constant improvement and create systems in their daily life to focus on growth, positivity, and productive habits.

Successful people also have a great support system.  They have people who are motivating them to succeed.  People can be anchors in your life (doubters, pessimist, haters) or engines (motivators, optimist, cheerleaders).  If you surround your self with people you want to be like, you will most likely become like them.

Things never go exactly as planned and it can be frustrating.  But the best lessons come from mistakes and the unexpected.  When you take action, mistakes will be made.  But those who are afraid to make mistakes are the ones who settle for mediocrity and live with regret.  Successful people are doers!

By focusing on the long term goal, and reminding yourself everyday what you want to accomplish, it will make the short term 'ruts' easier to maneuver and learn from.

Set a vague long term goal to start and it will become clearer the more you take action to accomplish it.

Account Closed · Answer

First decide that doing nothing will get you nothing results.

Second, once you decide to do something. Do the first thing first, then the second thing, and so on.

James Gorman IV · Answer

Only a suggestion, Google the 12 Zen Things and see if they help.

Devlin Harding · Answer

I would search "Motivation" on Youtube. Tons of 5-10 minute montages with tons of motivational quotes and speeches. I listen to one every morning. As soon as you wake up, for the first 20 minutes they say your subconscious mind is most impressionable. Play one video while you brush your teeth or make breakfast. And ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS..believe in yourself. Believe in your ability to persevere through any tough time. Year's from now you'll be much smarter and more successful.

How do you increase your belief?

Most Popular Reply