Activation Exercises

Calling Out Limiting Beliefs

Make a list of all the things that you can think of, which you have accepted as true about the world, your circumstances, your body, your character, your goals and how society and culture work. To help, I’ve reproduced some examples from Chapter 6 of Metamorphosis.

• My parents are [insert name of organised religion] so I have to be that way too.

• I could never run a marathon/ write a book/ set up my own business/ try public speaking.

• Good girls don’t ask for too much.

• Money is the root of all evil.

• I’m chubby/ bitchy/ bad at tennis – that’s just the way I am.

• I’m not worthy of being happy/ rich/ loved/ married [or insert any other blessing].

• I am not enough.

Now, write out the precise opposite of each of these phrases, ideally with a sentence to back up your statement.

For example, ‘I am not enough’ becomes ‘I am enough. I am perfect in my imperfections. I am wholly unique and therefore I have a unique role to play in the universe. I am a part of this divine universe and therefore I am divine too.’

Writing the Other Side of Your Story

Think of a situation where you feel stuck. It could be in your love relationship, at work or in a friendship. Think about the narrative that you repeatedly tell yourself about this situation: how you assign blame, what causes you assume are driving your and any other parties’ behaviour and why you feel it’s unfair. Imagine you’re writing a letter to an agony aunt or therapist in your head. Now: imagine that you’re the other party, writing in to the same column. What would their letter look like? How would your lover or friend explain his or her behaviour, how would your boss explain why you’ve been overlooked for promotion, for example? And how do you think they’d explain or view your behaviour in this situation? This idea comes from Lori Gottlieb, a therapist and author who writes the Dear Therapist column for The Atlantic and whose brilliant TED Talk focuses on just this: writing the other side of your story. Details of her awesome book are below.

Resources for Chapter 6

Books

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone – Lori Gottlieb – I loved everything about this: great therapist advice and heartbreakingly raw stories of humanity

The Power Of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way – Dr Wayne Dyer – One of my all-time favourites. Dr Dyer illustrates how we can tap into the universal stream of wisdom and creativity at any time

Code of the Extraordinary Mind, The – Vishen Lakhiani – An absolutely brilliant read – shows us how to clear up limiting beliefs and code for ourselves a limitless mind

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It – Kamal Ravikant – I read the short original version. The latest version is 4x longer and I can’t wait to read it. So beautiful and moving – a gift to yourself

The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be – Jack Canfield – A motivating look at how we can create the characteristics we need to succeed

The Miracle Morning – Hal Elrod – I now do this every morning. Incredibly inspiring. Elrod writes with great clarity

The Miracle Equation – Hal Elrod – Demonstrates how with unwavering faith + extraordinary effort we can achieve absolutely everything

Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing – Anita Moorjani – – A game-changer. Her description of her NDE and subsequent freedom to live the life she wants are so inspiring

Super Attractor – Gabby Bernstein – Shows us how to get past all of our old narratives and energy blocks to a place of surrender and possibility

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