I just recently finished doing an event called the Transformations Bootcamp, where we take out and help guys overcome their fears of meeting people and massively push their comfort to do things they wouldn't normally do. Through this experience, you're making several major shifts to your beliefs and your identity about who you are. It's a pretty incredible experience.
I decided to make a video blog on Sunday night after the Bootcamp, as I had some thoughts that I wanted to share that I think are important on how to change your beliefs and your identity. Your beliefs about who you are (your identity) are what are shaping your entire life. Every decision you make, from deciding to read this blog, or what you're wearing at this very moment, is based on your belief systems. The challenge is, most of us didn't consciously choose our beliefs. We had certain experiences that we interpreted a meaning from that caused us to believe things are a certain way, or we modelled those around us, like our parents or peers growing up.
In this video, I share how a shy, timid student was able to change his identity and beliefs from “I'm shy” to “I'm confident” on only a matter of hours. I did the exact same thing myself when I used to be a shy, introverted young man… and as you can probably tell, today I'm totally different from that.
Click below to watch the video blog:
(Click here to watch the video on YouTube)
When you do things that you wouldn't normally do, things that are incongruent with who you are, your beliefs become challenged. This opens up the opportunity for a new way of thinking, or a new belief system. The best way to challenge your current limitations and beliefs are through stepping outside of your comfort zone, into the unknown.
Do things that you wouldn't normally do.
When I was shy, I did things like acting classes, improv classes, and public speaking classes to change who I was. It was very uncomfortable, but I knew by doing it I would be improving myself. I would go out and socialize with strangers in random places, facing my fears of rejection, and acted like an extroverted person.
For health and fitness, I used to have the beliefs that I was a “binge eater” or “I'm too skinny/fat”, and as long as I identified with those beliefs, the behaviours would follow that of whomever carries that identity. The same thing goes if you say “I'm depressed” or whatever label you put on yourself.
It's important that when you push your comfort zone and gain these new references, that you USE them to support your new belief system. For example, if you say to yourself, “I'm depressed” and then you have a happy moment, you want to USE that moment and say… “Wait a minute, am I really depressed? I was just happy just now. What if that's who I really am?” And it will be who you are if you choose to let those experiences shape your identity.
I'd catch myself eating healthy or exercising, and then reinforce that identity by saying “THIS is who I am!”
If you change your identity and beliefs, the behaviours automatically follow.
I hope this video and article added some insight into who you are and how you're currently living your life.
The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably live with.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone is a GOOD THING, as it forces us to grow and develop ourselves as human being. If there's one thing that gives us happiness, it's progress. When we're growing, that's when we feel alive. Growth and Contribution are the ultimate needs of the spirit, and is what gives human beings lasting fulfillment.