In a world filled with doubt and fear, it’s safe to say that many of us have been exposed to limiting beliefs that have brought us down from where we used to stand.  It’s time to reawaken the truth inside you and let your fire within burn bright!

We are putting some sprinklers in our garden this spring (and I’m so excited!), and since we’ve got mad skills, we’re doing a lot of the work ourselves.  (And when I say “we”, I mean “my husband” of course, haha.)

Time is ticking and summer is coming, and we have had to put off the job of trenching for different reasons.  Just last Saturday, my husband was at a conference and was unable to go pick up a trencher before the rental business closed, so he asked if I could get it.

I knew it would be in our best interest for me to do this, so that he could get the job done later that day instead of waiting a whole other week!  There was just one problem…

I’D HAVE TO PULL THE TRAILER!!!

The part of me that wanted to get on with the project was fine with this.  The part of me that would actually be doing the driving was not!

However, I agreed (and asked my dad to come hook the trailer up, because that was not going to happen by me).

All I had to do was pull it.  And I started to get nervous.

And THEN….

I remembered something.

When I had just graduated college from USU, I had a summer job working for Youth Conference Services.  Every Friday, all summer long, we hosted field games out on the Quad (four large sections of grass in the middle of campus).

One of those activities was a rock wall.

We were all trained on how to properly set the wall up, take it down, hitch it to the van, and yes, drive it away and store it.

Several of my co-workers wanted nothing to do with towing that huge thing, and I honestly didn’t see what the big deal was.  Whenever my rotation was on the rock wall, I was usually the one driving.

It was easy.

I could drive the van –why not take a few wider turns and go a little slower than usual?  I truly felt no fear or anxiety.  (And in case you’re wondering, there was no need to back up –forward driving only!)

EASY!

So, back to when my nerves were starting to tingle about having to pull a trailer to pick up the trencher…

I just so happened to be in front of a mirror when I remembered my past experience, and I was like “wait a second… I pulled a ROCK WALL!”  I sank into the feeling of how simple and easy of a task it was back then, and I looked into my eyes and said with clarity: “I can do this!”

I fearlessly hopped into my Yukon and never looked back (except for when I was checking my rearview mirror to make sure things were all good, haha).

And I did it.

I even ended up in a small parking lot where I had to do a little 3-point turnabout (which may or may not have been more than 3 points… who’s counting anyway?)  And I stayed calm and confident the whole time my trailer was going the opposite way I wanted it to, LOL!  I eventually made it out!

As I pondered this experience, I wondered why and when I went from confidently pulling a rock wall (which was MUCH bigger than our little trailer) to being nervous to tow something.

Though I didn’t recall any exact answers, I knew that somewhere along the path I had listened to the voices around me and accepted the idea that it’s hard to pull a trailer.

I repeat:  I had listened to the voices around me and took on a new belief because of them.

Now, I ask you…

What’s your “towing a trailer?”  In other words, what is it that you used to believe about yourself but over time have formed a new belief due to what you’ve heard other people say?

• Did you once believe that you’re a fun person to be around? Until someone called you annoying…
• Did you once believe that you can achieve your dreams? Until someone told you that’s not reality…
• Did you once believe that you’re good at something? Until someone told you you’re not…
• Did you once believe that you’re intelligent? Until someone called you dumb…
• Did you once believe that you’re good at sports? Until someone told you you’re not very athletic?
• Did you once feel confident in who you are? Until someone said something that challenged your identity…

What limiting beliefs do you have about yourself that you can consciously remember feeling differently about at one point?

Once you’ve pinpointed it, look yourself in the mirror and say “wait a minute… I used to believe ______________!”  Spend a generous amount of time reflecting on your positive feelings of the past and bring yourself to become that person again, even if just for a few minutes.

Ask yourself why and when you changed –maybe you’ll get a specific answer, or perhaps it will be vague.  It might be helpful, or it may not be.  Just explore your thoughts in any direction that feels good.

Try not to judge yourself for changing, nor hold a grudge toward others for what they said or did.  Let love and forgiveness abide in your heart!  Remember that everything you have experienced is for your good and growth, and now is your opportunity to expand your development.

Remember who you are and what you are capable of!

If nothing else, remember your divine heritage!  You are a child of God!!  If this is something that you’ve heard since you were 2, it may not seem like that big of a deal.  It may be so “normal” that it has lost its zing. 

I speak from personal experience.  Yes, I used to not think much of the words “I am a child of God”.  I knew they were true, but they lived in my head –not my heart.

If this is the case for you, I invite you to ask Heavenly Father to help you feel that you are His, and to understand how special you are to Him.  If you’re not sure those words are true, then just ask Heavenly Father if you ARE his child, and if you ARE special to Him.

Since this blogsite is about agency… WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH AGENCY??

We live in a world of many doubts and limiting beliefs.  We also live in a world of hope and expansion.

Choose your world.

Which side of your brain will you feed?  Choose wisely because your brain is so smart, and it will go to work finding all the evidence of the truth that you’re looking for.

Are you looking for proof that you’re capable of doing anything you set your mind to?  Your brain will find it.

Are you looking for proof that no one likes you?  Your brain will find it.

Are you looking for proof that you have talents and skills?  Your brain will find it.

Your brain wants to be right!  So whatever it is that you’re telling yourself, your brain is going to find the evidence to back you up.

For example, let’s say you’re working on a project, and you mess something up.  If you’ve been telling yourself that you can’t do anything right, your brain will say “SEE?  I knew it!  I can never do anything right!”

But if you’ve been telling yourself that you’re resilient and can always achieve what you set out to do, then in the same scenario of messing something up, your brain will say “Oh dang… I gotta fix that!”

So if you once believed that you’re a fun person to be around and then one person told you that you’re annoying, if you chose to believe them, then your brain has been going to work finding all the proof that you’re annoying.

But you don’t have to keep living that way!  You can choose to rewire your brain to look for proof that you’re a fun person to be around!!

Whatever it is that you used to believe about yourself that you would like to adopt again, start by going back to the place in your mind where you once believed it, and then try to find pieces of evidence that support the idea

• When was the last time you were laughing with a friend? See? You’re fun to be around!
• What’s one little thing that you wanted to do that you made happen? See?  You can achieve your dreams!
• What is something that you did a good job at? See?  You’re good at things!
• Think of a time you explained something to someone. See?  You’re intelligent!
• When have you gone against the crowd in appearance, opinion, or action? See?  You have self-confidence!

If these questions don’t apply to you, think up your own!

Start small, they don’t have to be huge accomplishments, just little nibbles to get your brain turned around and looking in a new direction.

Get your brain working FOR you, not against you!

Remember who you are and what you’re capable of!

You once believed it and you can believe it again.  You can do this!  Tell me in the comments if you can relate to this!

I love you, and I support you!

Empowering you to embrace your agency and liberate yourself through conscious choice!