Last updated on November 27th, 2023.
Who you are is not who you have to be unless you want it to be. And, where you are is only just where you are now and not where you will be once you’re there.
Ok, so enough of the esoteric zen stuff. What’s the point of the article: You can create yourself and your reality. Up to this point you’ve done just that but maybe you didn’t think about it in those terms.
Just as your past experiences have led you to think a certain way and those thoughts have produced emotions which then led to behaviors or patterning, so too can new experiences produce new thoughts and so on.
(If you’d like to dig deeper into that pattern: experiences, thoughts, emotions and behaviors then check out our article on the three brains!)
What does that mean with respect to Self Work? It means the creation of new experiences, thoughts, feelings and patterns of behavior will create: a new you. It doesn’t mean you forget where you’ve come from or that you abandon yourself. It means the intentional creation of new thoughts, feelings, being and outcomes for yourself. You can be designed and crafted by your conscious mind as long as you’re willing to let go of your fear and ego, and put in the work, hence, self work.
These three resources below not only provide insight into why you are who you are but they also provide guidance on how to change. Self Work spans more than just changing your mind of course, it includes a complete change in your life a result.
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself
Dr. Joe Dispenza has spent years researching and studying the brain in relationship to human behavior and in his book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself he outlines not only how the mind works in relationship to our thoughts and feelings but draws the link between our minds and our everyday lives. After reading this book you’ll understand our lives, in almost every aspect, are a direct result of our thoughts.
The Four Agreements
The Toltecs were once thought to be a primitive people with no true advanced knowledge but that belief has since been debunked. Adding to our knowledge of their advanced society and understanding of human nature is Don Miguel Ruiz’s brilliant instruction into Toltec spirituality. As explained in The Four Agreements, each of us have a dream world created through early conditioning of our thoughts and perspectives. As Ruiz dives into how our conditioning is created he reveals the four necessary principles in navigating our interpretation of life. Through application of these principles, in this classic book, what is vs what’s perceived begins to emerge and take shape.
The Power of Habit
Finally, the third book in this review and to help you begin the journey of intentional Self Work, is Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. This book is chosen third among the group because it reinforces with practical stories just how powerful habits can be and what that means to your life and success within it. Combining this read with the other two you’ll have the foundation to begin working on yourself and crafting an intentional life by first crafting your mind and the habits you create.
Looking for a place to get started and maybe organize all of the work? If so, we recommend this process and book here: Lifebook Online, which is a fantastic way to learn everything there is to know about yourself. The book is designed to help you live your best life. It takes you through many different chapters that help you learn and grow. From fitness and health to love and relationships, this book has everything.
In conclusion, remember, experiences produce thoughts which in turn lead to feelings and those feelings manifest in behaviors. After this, the cycle repeats with behaviors leading to the same experiences and so on. Habits that are formed are difficult to break because they are subconscious and reinforced by repetition. Dig into the material within the books listed above and you’ll have a great foundation for what it takes to do the work on the self.
