Most of the time we think that “but” is a 4 letter word (minus one). It can follow something good and end with something not so good – “you did a great job, Joe….but next time why don’t you do this or that”.  That kind of “but” negates everything that went before it. I bet that you cringed when you even read  the word “but”. Fess up – to yourself anyway.

We often wait for the “but” to drop so to speak. We are so conditioned that someone is going to tell us what we did wrong that we don’t even hear the compliment because we’re waiting for the ‘but’.

But  (sorry, couldn’t resist) today I want to tell you that there is a “but” that is a good thing. In order to use it effectively you have to listen all the way through. Listen to yourself that is. “But” is the easiest way for you to determine your limiting beliefs. I find it hard for folks to realize they have any limiting beliefs because such thoughts are so engrained in them that they don’t even realize they are beliefs. To them these thoughts are “Truth”, no question, no doubt. Remember, though, that a belief is just a thought you keep thinking over and over again. So how on earth can you identify that they are limiting beliefs? By using the power of “but”.

You’ve probably heard the naysayers out there who claim that affirmations are useless and they don’t help you achieve your goals. In some ways these people are correct. You have to clear the land before you can start to build again. The affirmation is the building. There are many ways to clear the land. There are denials, there is EFT, there are many different techniques for clearing your mind and presenting fertile ground for the affirmations to take hold.

Today, though, I want to show you how to use the affirmations to identify your limiting beliefs.

First, make a list of what you want. For example, “I have increased my income by 50% in the past six months”.

Say the affirmation out loud.

Pause at the end of the statement. Is there a “but” (or a “yeah but”)? If so, what follows the but? That is your limiting belief.

Write down all the statements/thoughts following the “but”.

Here’s some examples. I’ll list some affirmations here:

• “I am healthy and whole”
• “I have all the money I want and have paid off all my bills”
• “I have the greatest job in the world”
• “I am successful in every aspect of my career”
• “I have a loving relationship with my partner”
• “I live in the most glorious house”
• “I have everything I need and want”
• “I am happy with the way my life is going”

Here’s the affirmations with the “buts”:

• “I am healthy and whole but why am I so tired all the time and the doctor thinks I’m sick”
• “I have all the money I want and have paid off all my bills but then why do I keep getting calls from bill collectors”
• “I have the greatest job in the world, but I am not happy and can’t wait to leave work every day”.
• “I am successful in every aspect of my career but I can’t see any way that I could possibly get promoted”.
• “I have a loving relationship with my partner but we argue all the time and I’m not sure he cares about me”.
• “I live in the most glorious house but I could never afford this house and that’s why I rent it”.
• “I have everything I need and want but I can’t allow myself to want very much because there’s no way I can afford things”.
• “I am happy with the way my life is going but I am so scared of getting old”.

Here’s the limiting beliefs:

• “I am healthy and whole but why am I so tired all the time and the doctor thinks I’m sick”. Limiting belief =  I am not worthy of being well. I do no have health.
• “I have all the money I want and have paid off all my bills but then why do I keep getting calls from bill collectors”. Limiting belief = I am not prosperous.
• “I have the greatest job in the world, but I am not happy and can’t wait to leave work every day”. Limiting belief = I do not deserve a good job.
• “I am successful in every aspect of my career but I can’t see any way that I could possibly get promoted”. Limiting belief = I am not worthy of being promoted. I can never get a promotion.
• “I have a loving relationship with my partner but we argue all the time and I’m not sure he cares about me”. Limiting belief = I do not deserve a good relationship.
• “I live in the most glorious house but I could never afford this house and that’s why I rent it”. Limiting belief = I can’t afford the house of my dreams (or any house)
• “I have everything I need and want but I can’t allow myself to want very much because there’s no way I can afford things”. Limiting belief = I can’t afford to have nice things and pamper myself
• “I am happy with the way my life is going but I am so scared of getting old”. Limiting belief = I am afraid of getting old.

There are variations on the limitations that I wrote here but you get the gist. Once you start identifying your own “buts”, you will be able to see what needs attention. You can then create denials (or use EFT) or simply say “that is not my truth” until you can say the affirmation without feeling the “but” behind it.

Try it. Make some affirmations and then follow this process. Let me know how it’s going.

Terrie