The Tale of Two Dogs

There is a story they tell of two dogs.

Both, at separate times, walk into the same room. One comes out wagging his tail, while the other comes out growling.

A woman watching this goes into the room to see what could possibly make one dog so happy and the other so mad. To her surprise she finds a room filled with mirrors.

The happy dog found a thousand happy dogs looking back at him while the angry dog saw only angry dogs growling back at him.

Moral of the story: What you see in the world around you is a reflection of who you are.

At its core, this concept suggests that our inner world — our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and attitudes — profoundly influences our perception and interpretation of the external world.

We tend to notice and resonate with things in our external environment that align with our internal emotional state. Our minds have a tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and attitudes.

After all, our beliefs about ourselves can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

If you believe you’re capable of achieving your goals, you’re more likely to take actions that lead to success. Conversely, if you believe you’re destined to fail, your actions may unintentionally sabotage your chances of success.

So, what does that mean?

Well, for me, this is a significant reminder to constantly be identifying and challenging my limiting beliefs; I hope it encourages you to do the same.

Here are a couple ways to get you started:

1. Mindfulness and Meditation: Practice mindfulness to become more aware of your thought patterns. When negative or self-limiting thoughts surface, acknowledge them without judgment. Meditation can also help you observe your thoughts from a more detached perspective.
2. Socratic Questioning: Use the Socratic method to challenge your beliefs. Ask yourself questions like, “Is this belief based on evidence or assumption?”
   “Have I always believed this, or is it a learned belief?”
   “What would happen if I didn’t believe this?”
   These questions encourage critical thinking.
3. Set Incremental Goals: Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps. This not only builds confidence but also challenges the belief that you can’t accomplish certain things. As you achieve these smaller goals, you’ll gradually erode the power of your limiting beliefs

You hold the power. Time to start believing it.

You’ve got my support.
GP