What is a Limiting Illusion? Typically this is where you think and believe you cannot do something. Even though you physically (probably) could.
Examples of what you could do: For some people.... Get out of bed. Say hello to a stranger you should make contact with (sales situations can be the worst) Clean something. Learn a new language.
The possible examples are endless. The key point is that there are things you could do that would benefit you. But you don’t.
Its that simple.
How many Limiting Illusions can you identify in your own life How many things are there that you know you should do but you just don’t?
Pick one and lets call it “ X ”. In many cases you keep yourself happy thinking that you will do “ X “ sometime in the future.
Perhaps you even have a plan to do “ X “ tomorrow. And sticking rigidly to your plan, when tomorrow arrives you.......
Plan to do “ X “ tomorrow...... Again (tomorrow)
Because for whatever reason think you cannot do “ X “ today.
The illusion in this case is that you are unable to do “ X “ today.
Basic Illusion: Your brain is “in charge”. You are probably under the impression that you control yourself through your thoughts. One effect of this illusion is to believe you can control yourself through directing your thoughts.
However, whilst your brain is great at calculating and imagining what you are going to do, it does not supply the energy to do “ X “.
So you think that you are going to do “ X “, but when the time comes, you do not have the necessary energy to accomplish you goal.
Actually, you will probably have already have noticed, in such instances you will barely have the energy to even start.
In this case your emotions are dictating: “ I do not want to do X “.
An illusion exists when something is the opposite of what it appears to be. If your brain was in control you could control all of your emotions. Whereas, at best you can temporarily suppress your emotions, which is not exactly controlling them.
Why this Limiting Illusion is occurring. Your brain is an excellent calculator.
It calculates by: 1. Eliminating apparently irrelevant information. 2. Arranging the known facts into a coherent answer.
So, for example, if you asked it: “ Is £20 enough money for me to buy a book at the local book shop. “
It would estimate the cost the cost of the book at say £15.99 and the answer is YES, £20 is enough.
However, you arrive at the book shop. You find a book you want to purchase even more than the first one, costing £12.99
Total cost is now £28.98 and you do not have ENOUGH MONEY.
Your brain did not make a mistake. Your brain did discount other possible factors.
In the case of “ I want to do X ..... Tomorrow “, your brain is not feeling the energy to do “ X “ today.
So it will tell you that today is not a good day to do “ X “.
Recap. You want to do something that is definitely in your better interests. Call it “ X “
You think about doing “ X “.
Your brain measures if you have the necessary energy to do “ X “ and if the answer is NO you generally will do something else. So “ X “ does not get done.
Solution. Check your breathing. The answer to overcoming Limiting Illusions is to become more SELF AWARE.
When you think about doing “ X “ your breathing initially will be BLOCKED.
Now to make sense of what this means, just think about something you do want to do and already do with ease. Notice how you have better, more enjoyable and energised breathing.
The first step to doing “ X “... Is to re-programme yourself to breathing properly and enjoyably every time you think about doing “ X “
Then you will find you DO HAVE THE ENERGY to do the thing that will benefit you.