Is Self Belief Self Fulfilling?

Psychological Claptrap

They say self belief is a powerful  thing, it can drive you forward or hold you back, it is the proverbial double-edged sword.  What you believe to be true easily becomes so.

Are they making rational statements or is it just a load of old hocus pocus?

Let me tell you a story…

The story in my head

What I see: My boss walking my way after I have just finished a presentation to the board; coming to say something to me

What I believe: I am not good at presentations; I always put both my feet in my mouth: I am the master of political in-correctness

How I interpret it: My boss is going to give me some feedback, feedback of the sort I can really, really do without

How I act: I shrug internally and wait for the inevitable

My boss’s version of events

What he sees: He is coming to congratulate me about a presentation when I look at him and shudder

What he believes: I can get tetchy after presentations, I over analyse them

How he interprets it: I am still a little stressed

How he acts: He turns around, the praise can wait

Back in my head

What I see: My boss shaking his head and turning around

What I believe: My presentation really was that bad

How I interpret it: He can’t even be bothered to come and give me the feedback

How I act: I flare up and start to storm down the corridor after him

The terrible truth

These beliefs are only real in our heads; we all have them, and we would hate for them to be true.  Yet they can so easily become self-fulfilling.

If you could create some beliefs in your head, positive ones that helped, rather than hindered you, what would they be?  I’d bet they aren’t even a stretch of the imagination.

What would you like to believe?  If you focused on that for 5 minutes, started to believe it, maybe others will believe it too.

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right ~ Henry Ford

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