I stayed behind a Toyota Prado going at 40 km /hr today…because you know.. it’s a Prado and how dare I try to overtake a huge SUV wth my 650CC car? It didnt occur to me for a few minutes, that in THIS circumstance I could overtake because it was going pretty slowly.
Nope.
My mind associated Prado with “speed”, “huge engine” “out of my league” “no hope of ever overtaking one” “I know my place and it is NOT up there with the Prados” “Just drive safely behnd it”.
Which would be fine for all the other times.
However…
In THIS instance it was going at 40km/hr and my Suzuki Alto which usually handles a cool 70km/hr relatively easily, stayed behind this Prado for almost half an hour.
Why?
Formulas.
EFFED up formulas!
The formula in my brain for Prado clearly states that I have no dream of ever overtaking one and so I should always stay in my lane and meekly allow it to pass.
Formulas: The way our brains organize certain information or experiences into rules.
Formulas such as:
“I need an MBA to start a business successfully”
“I need one more degree to increase my income”
“Only lucky people are successful in business”
“I can’t do it”
Formulas help us to organize and group concepts in our heads, but…occassionally a formula will become obsolete without us realizing it. And our automated brains still hold onto old beliefs.
It’s like still using a BlackBerry when the world has moved on to iPhones. Or watching movies on DVD players instead of streaming conveniently on Netflix.
Some old formulas stick to ancient ways of making money or running a business.
Such as, get a degree beg for promotions and fight with coworkers for the boss’s favour and attention. Lol
As any Math teacher will tell you, if the formula is wrong, the answer will always be wrong. Finding a solution is dependent on using the correct formula.
If those negative statements are a part of your thinking formula, then the answer will never be success.
Good news! Formulas can be challenged! They are NOT set in stone. They may have been created by your environment, the people closest to you or even things you heard being said growing up.
But, that was the past. You are now in charge of what you think and what you believe!
You can challenge and change your thinking formulas by:
Finding evidence that opposes them
Try to find as many situations as you can that proves the opposite of this belief. Your brain will be resisting, so be consistent.
2. Affirmations
Basically just repeating the new information over and over until it seeps into the automatic thinking system (where formulas exist).
3. Directly oppose/challenge the formula
Like a rebellious teenager, just defy it. Do the thing you think you cannot do. Prove yourself wrong!
4. Minimize you time around people who reinforce these old outdated formulas.
Find our tribe and surround yourself with them – physically or digitally.
5. Hack your environment by following select accounts of social media.
Whatever you’re absorbing consistently eventually becomes your reality. Follow accounts that encourage the new way of thinking, earning and living.
Most of us inherited false formulas for success and living. There’s no reason to allow those limitations to continue determining the life and success we can achieve.
Start shifting your formulas and go after your success!
Love and progress,
Stephie
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