I’m a visual kind of guy, so today we’ll draw a simple picture to illustrate one of life’s most critical lessons. (This is an exercise I first read in the book “PsychoCybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz a few years ago…good read!)

Get out a sheet of paper.

Now, around the edges, draw a large square box.

Now in the middle of that large box, draw a very small one right in the center. Make it about an inch on each side (come on…really do this, don’t just imagine.)

Now in the middle of the smaller box, draw a large dot.

Ready?

The dot is you. The smaller box represents your current potential. The outer box represents your actual potential.

Most of us live in a very small space compared to what we could easily have. We want more, we see the possibility of more, but never live up to our true potential to be, have, do and give all that we really could.

Know what the little box is made up of?

Your beliefs about yourself.

Whatever you let go on in your own head about what’s possible and impossible, likely and unlikely, seemly and unseemly, right and wrong, that’s what’s possible, likely, seemly and right for you.

While some things truly are right and wrong, most of us live in a cage of things that are not dictated anywhere but in old memories. So that’s where we stop.

We’re like caged lions, once fierce and wild, not stalking around in endless circles inside the cage we’ve created. We see the rest of the world, feel it’s pull, but can’t do more. Sadly, after a few years in the cage, even the most majestic lions become conditioned to their space.

• Don’t think it’s possible to build a marketing system that will get you everything you want?
• Don’t think it’s likely that taking more action will work for you?
• Don’t think it’s seemly to ask other people for help?
• Don’t think it’s right to follow up 7 or 8 times when you send in a resume?
• Don’t think anyone will read more than a 1-page resume?
• Don’t think you can sell well in person, or that marketing isn’t for you?

Then you’ll get the results of someone limited by those beliefs. Personally I think Henry Ford said it best:

“Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”

What you need to know is that those limiting beliefs are just made of memories and fears – they’re not substantial in any way, except that we give them power by holding on to them.

They’re remnants of our past, words spoken to us by powerful people or circumstances that closed us off, rather than opening us up.

So we become strange mimes, living in an invisible box. The original walls were probably someone else’s idea. But today we live in them of our own volition. We think our mother’s voice, or a past failure, or a fear of embarassment are concrete walls that limit our choices and options.

They aren’t.

The minute you choose to tear them down is the very minute you become free of them. It may take a while to live free more effortlessly, but freedom is an instant choice, like turning a crystal and seeing a different color in it than we could see before.

And honestly, even though there have been years of effort to release myself, I think the very thought “effort will be required” was part of my limiting beliefs. I honestly don’t know that effort is required…just desire, the right perspective and action.

I went by a sign in my neighborhood today where a business owner has a letter-sign and puts up funny or encouraging messages all the time. This one said:

“Life is short. Kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love deeply.”

I’m not usually sentimental over signs along my commute, but this one made me ask myself a tough question. Despite everything going on in the world and in my life today, if I knew it was all ending in a month, could I honestly say I’m free of my cage?

Why not?