This blog post is the “companion” piece to #5 which considered limiting beliefs. In this one, I will introduce the concept of neuroplasticity and offer effective strategies to move you away from your limiting beliefs and toward positive, empowering beliefs that will help you reach your goals. The first strategy offers a list of empowering beliefs which are “ready-made” for you to use and are frequently effective for people working on their weight. The second strategy teaches you how to discover your own limiting beliefs and transform them into empowering beliefs that serve you. It takes a little more work than the first method, but can truly pay off. Try them both or pick one. And the final strategy suggests ways to practice your new empowering beliefs. That’s for everyone. Don’t skip that step!

One tricky thing about beliefs is that we are often unaware of what we believe. The thought resides just below the surface of the flow of words in our minds. This means that in order to become cognizant of some of those “hidden” beliefs, we have to cultivate awareness. Somehow (and there are many techniques, fortunately), we need to tune in to what we’re thinking and let those beliefs come to the surface.

So why set goals? I submit that the purpose of having a goal and working to achieve it is not to search for that elusive “happiness” or fix something but rather to get to know yourself better. To discover your own power, your own “awesomeness” as we call it nowadays. To become a self-actualized person. To engage more fully in life. To find out what you’re made of. It’s not the goal per se that’s the greatest value but rather to see who you become as you challenge yourself to become the person you truly want to be.

Don’t go on a “diet.” Rather, decide to create your own plan, gradually. It needs to be something you prefer to live with for the rest of your life. Allow it to easily fit in with your life—your schedule, what other people in your household eat, how much time realistically you have to shop and prep food, your food preferences, in short everything in your life! There is no diet plan out there that knows what your life is like, so design your own. Change one small thing at a time and practice being consistent before you add the next thing.