As Emile Coue, the famous French physician once said: "Always think of what you have to do as easy and it will become so".

In fact, many centuries ago Virgil, the famous philosopher was obviously aware of this fundamental law of psychology when he simply said: 

'They can because they believe they can'.

CHANGING BELIEFS

So now that we are beginning to catch a glimpse of how important our deepest-held beliefs are in determining our experiences, how can we go about changing them.

The first thing to realize is that beliefs are not immutable laws or facts engraved in stone. 

If you have negative belief system about a person, addiction or experience, you can change it as easily as you can, say, change your clothing.

It is important to realize that beliefs systems are no more immutable than the length of your hair, your affection for a particular kind of music or your choice of car, for example.

KEY IDEA

It is as easy to change a belief as it is to change your clothing.  

Many people believe that it will take a long time to change their old deeply-held beliefs but this too is....... only a belief.

The important thing is to get it clear in your mind that if you don't like your beliefs - you can change them - and change them easily.

An Exercise

 

	This is a simple exercise for uncovering what you really believe about smoking. Sit with a stack of several sheets of paper. Choose a quiet room with no distractions. Now place the tip of your pen on the first sheet of paper and promise that you will not lift your pen for five minutes. Begin to write the sentence 'I need to smoke because....................... and finish it anyway you want.
Not lifting your pen, write the same sentence again, 'I need to smoke because..................' and again let any ending that comes to mind be put on the paper

As you are doing this, take slow measured breaths in and out without pausing in between. 

This is called sometimes called circular breathing, in which inhale and exhale are connected. Since ancient times this deliberate sort of breathing has been considered a way to bypass the inhibitions of the conscious mind.

As you perform the circular breathing, in and out without pausing, keep finishing the sentence, 'I need to smoke because........' over and over again without lifting pen from paper. Once you liberate yourself to write down what you really believe about why you need to smoke you may find it difficult to stop.

If you are doing this exercise freely, letting your thoughts simply unravel without trying to control them or judge them you will find many unanticipated ideas and unconscious beliefs rising to the surface.

Let all emerge, but always return to your breathing and don't lift pen from paper until you are done. One word of caution: if you begin to feel too uncomfortable, stop. At the end of the exercise it is also a good idea to lie down and rest, allowing yourself to regain your normal equilibrium.

Try to perform this exercise for the following beliefs that are linked to smoking. Or if you prefer, pick the ones that you feel most resistance to.

1. It is very hard to give up smoking.........

2. You will suffer terribly when you stop..............

3. You will need tons of willpower to succeed...............

4.When you stop you will feel terrible - and there is nothing you can do about this - but just suffer and hope it goes away.............

5.Very few people can successfully give up smoking. Most people will eventually fail..............

6. Giving up will be a terrible sacrifice. Life will never be the same or as enjoyable again...............

7.You will never ever again be really able to enjoy your lunch breaks or social occasions ............

8.It is just not possible to give up smoking and enjoy it............

Please take your time. 

Go through each belief. 

Sense - feel - how much power each belief has for you. Be patient. Most of us have no idea how deeply embedded these beliefs are.

The first step towards changing a belief is to becoming AWARE of it.

Do not criticize or judge yourself for having these beliefs.

 Please be patient and honest with yourself. Admit to yourself what you really believe no matter how bad or discouraging it may seem to be, at first.