Some people get freaked out by Friday the 13th. Not my sister, whose June 13th birthday has fallen more than once on a Friday. She considers it a lucky day. But, according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, N.C. as many as 21 million people are fearful of this day and an estimated $800 million is lost in business every Friday the 13th because people won’t fly or do business they would normally do.
So some people are superstitious. They believe that if something bad is going to happen, it’s more likely to happen on a bad-luck day like Friday the 13th. And chances are, for them, it will.
A belief is anything you accept as truth. From my experiences, and those of my clients, and what I’ve learned about confirmation bias, our beliefs shape our experience. For example, if you believe a situation will frustrate you, then most likely it will. Or, if you believe a co-worker will make you unhappy, then probably s/he will. And your frustration or unhappiness — or bad luck — will in turn reinforce your belief.
So beliefs can be limiting.
Find some time to examine your beliefs about yourself, your business, your job, your staff, your co-workers and your clients. Write them down. Make lists. Study them. Are any of those beliefs limiting? Keep in mind that just because you believe something doesn’t mean it’s true.
No one can change your beliefs for you. And beliefs can’t be forced upon you. But I have learned that we can change our ideas about ourselves that allow us to grow, develop and have happy, fulfilling professional lives.
Tags: beliefs, human energy, managing yourself, personal effectiveness, success
I believe this to be absolutely true. In practice it is really easy to fall back in to old patterns of thought. I wonder why it is so easy to lose confidence. Thanks for the article.