It all comes down to your self image. Everyday, without conscious intention or action, the self image acts as a mental program to bring you consistent experiences that match your perceptions of life. It's what determines your model of reality. Most importantly, the level of success you've attained to this day is based on the quality of the characteristics that make up your self image.

Possibilities

Your self image decides, not you. I know this concept to be true from my own personal experience. Years ago I had a very negative attitude about everything. I saw no possibilities for myself, or for my future. Little did I know this was caused by my self image. Over the past few years I have completely recreated my self image to be that of an active, enthusiastic, confident, disciplined, responsible, goal achieving machine. Now I see more possibilities in my life than I could ever accomplish. I'd like to emphasize one point: From my own experience, I've learned that your self image determines what you consider possible.

Beliefs & Expectations

What you believe and expect of yourself is also largely determined by your self image. If you believe you are worthless and can't find happiness, then your results will reflect that. John DeMartini explains it well saying "All Memory and Imagination is a Lie" unless you believe it to be true and it no longer becomes memory, but becomes prophecy. Some may argue, "No, this is way things are, because I experienced it." And I completely understand where they are coming from. I haven't had a perfect past, but I can tell you this: If you allow your past experiences and memories to dictate your future, then you will experience nothing but the same. It's your decision. You can let your past determine your future, or you can be the master of your destiny.

Self Image Leads to Action

Naturally, people take action based on everything they believe and expect of themselves. But what determines the actual validitity of a belief? The answer in my opinion is experience. Either someone told you something that reinforced the belief, or you experienced a set of circumstances that supported the notion. But experience isn't always external. Your model of who you are doesn't have to be 100% determined by outside circumstances, and it isn't. If reality was 100% determined by outside experiences, then we would be like pinballs bouncing from experience to experience in life with absolutely no control. Depending on how often you exercise your imagination, and visualize yourself succeeding in situations, you're experience will be determined by both external and interntal experiences. To change your life, change your self image, so you belief and expect new things. Then, new actions will come as a result.

Changing Your Self Image

The self image is generally quite resistant to change. Dr. Maxwell Maltz, author of Psycho Cybernetics, explains that one cannot establish new personality patterns until they dehypnotize themself from negative past experiences. When we are hypnotized, we accept something to be true. To be more precise, the nervous system recieves input in the form of positive or negative emotions, which validate the experience. To change these deep seated beliefs, one must enter a state of deep relaxation. By using the imagination to create new imagery of success, wealth, happiness, etc. you begin creating a new self. Creating vivid imagery on a daily basis reprograms your subconscious, because your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between an actual experience and one that is vividly imagined.

You self image determines everything. It is you in every aspect. As humans, we lack a permanent self from the day we're born. So we construct a self image based on our experiences, beliefs, and expectations. It then acts a model of the world; something to live by. But remember, it's only a construct. It can be changed anytime, into almost anything. And that change is up to you.

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