"Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe? All things are possible for one who believes." – Mark 9:23
One of the eight principles we teach during our trainings is to BElieve. Believing is the act of seeing with your heart and not with your eyes. When we see only the things that we observe with our sight we can become discouraged and fearful because our world is bombarded with things that make us question ourselves and our sanity. Throughout the bible we witness miracles that are carried out for those who simply BElieve. In order for miracles to enter your life you must first have faith that good things are possible. When we don’t BElieve, it’s like we’re shutting the door on our blessings.
Several years ago, I was interviewing for an assistant principal position and during the interview, one of the interviewees stopped and said, “You will have to be an assistant principal in this district for three years before you become principal.” I didn’t really understand why the person felt a need to say this because I was interviewing for an assistant principal role and had not mentioned my desire to one day become principal. But in that moment, God spoke to me and said, “Man (meaning Humans) does not determine your destiny, I have already done that.” I never let that comment enter into my belief system. I walked into my new school “As If” what God had planned was already done. Not that I was the principal or an assistant principal, but always presenting my best self – being the leader that God had called me to be, having the courage to let me light shine.
About six months later, I was named principal of this school. But what would have happened if I hadn’t trusted and believed in God’s plan for my life?
Many of us are being held captive by our own limited beliefs or the limiting beliefs of others. We fail to trust in God’s plan for our lives and allow these restricting thoughts to become our destiny. Well, this is a bunch of BS! A bunch of false Belief Systems (what else did you think I was talking about?).
When we are born, our parents and caregivers introduce us to the world as they interpret it, they share their judgements, fears, labels, and perceptions of the world, others, as well as ourselves. These belief systems shape our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviors. While many of us spend years trying to unlearn many of the things we learned about ourselves, there are just as many of us that are not even aware of how this beliefs may be impacting our ability to create the life we desire.
When we practice BElieving in our trainings, we first have the participants think about what they want for their lives. We ask them to take away all the roadblocks that usually stop them from dreaming, such as “I don’t have enough money,” “I don’t have a college degree,” or any other statements of lack. We ask them to dream, and to Dream Big. We then ask them to become whatever it is they want for their lives. Not waiting until something major happens, but actually becoming that person that they desire to be right now. Allowing themselves to dream and to BElieve. We take it one step further by asking them to stand up and introduce themselves to others in the room “as if” they have already accomplished their goal. It’s so much fun to see and feel the energy in the room shift as people get excited about their new ventures.
On Tuesday I had the opportunity to speak at the TSPRA conference, and in the audience was Ms. Jenna from Dickinson ISD. Ms. Jenna sent me the following message before my presentation:
My name is Jenna, I work in Dickinson ISD. I am at the TSPRA conference today to see you speak. You came and did several trainings with us…during that training we did an exercise wher you told the group to introduce yourself as the person you aspire to be five years from now, Never before had I thought ‘politician’ but it came into my head at that moment. I introduced myself to everyone as such. Three years later I want you to know I just achieved that. I filed to run for Dickinson City Council and was unopposed. All from that moment in the training. I’ll be the youngest on the city council and the only female. Thank you, your training inspired me!
Jenna’s story (and many others) is proof that when we BElieve all things are possible!
Today, I want to challenge you to do just as Jenna did that day in our training session three years ago – think about what you want for your life, allow yourself to become that person now, and act as if!
Sending you love and hand hugs,
Niki Spears