Spring Starts Today: Come Out of the Cave of Limiting Beliefs

Do you feel stuck in life? Are you oppressed by the same problems and situations repeating themselves over and over again? Are you always broke? Dating the same kind of jerks? Being taken advantage of?

You may be trapped in Groundhog Day! It’s time to come out of the shadows. Stop limiting beliefs and let spring begin—now!

In the classic comedy “Groundhog Day,” Bill Murray’s character, a weatherman covering Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA, gets trapped in a time warp reliving the same groundhog day over and over until he begins to appreciate the little things in life.

It may sound silly, but the basic premise of this film applies to our own lives. We will remain stuck re-living the same experiences until we learn their underlying lessons. Then and only then can we be free to enjoy a fresh start.

For those unfamiliar with Groundhog Day, it is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. If the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees its shadow, it will go back in, prognosticating six more weeks of winter. If it doesn’t, welcome spring!

The Problem

Like the groundhog that gets frightened by its own shadow and goes back to its burrow, predicting an extended winter, we limit ourselves by our own shadow sides.

Unbeknownst to us, we allow our limiting beliefs and behavior patterns to trap us in a dark cave that prevents us from living our best lives.

Rather than being frightened by our shadows, we need to embrace them, make peace with them and let them go, so we can turn around and face the light.

Unless and until we learn our lessons, we will continue to repeat the mistakes of the past and remain stuck in an unevolved life.

The Solution

How, you may ask? It is super simple—with awareness. Examine your thoughts and beliefs, identify those that do not serve you and consciously let them go.

Catch yourself when you’re down and out and listen to the inner chatter that torments you and pushes you deeper into the hole.

Here’s a classic example.  If you peek in a divorce support group, you will find endless complaints of women who keep attracting the same kind of men. They are all selfish, thoughtless, cheaters. The list may be different for each woman–but you get my drift.

Chances are these men are identical personality-twins of their ex-husbands. Why? Because these women hold thought and behavior patterns that attract the same circumstances. No wonder Mr. Wrong keeps showing up at their doorstep!

The Way Out of the Hole

How do you break the cycle? With awareness.

When you’re upset by circumstances that repeat themselves, stop and ask yourself:

• What am I thinking?
• What is the origin of this belief?
• Is this true?
• Does it serve me?
• Do I need to keep this belief?
• Who would I be—how will I feel—if I let it go?

And LET-IT-GO!

In the case of the serial jerk-magnets, these ladies may be telling themselves things like: “I’m not beautiful enough.” “I am undesirable.” “No good man could ever love me.” “He may be a jerk, but at least I’m not alone.” “If he knew what I’m truly like he would leave me.”

These negative beliefs may be stem out of early childhood experiences, where a parent, teacher or classmate rejected them or said to them hurtful things that made them feel unworthy. The scenarios are many and familiar. We all have our own.

Upon further examination, these women can realize that these events are in the past, that their messages are not true and that they have no reason to keep them in their present lives, continuing to hurt them and hold them back from the happiness they deserve.

We all carry around our own set of negative beliefs.

As humans, we have all been exposed to painful experiences, but we don’t need to drag them around forever.

We all have wounds, but we don’t have to keep them open!

And this applies not only to relationships, but to all areas of your life—finances, work, play—you name it!

Most likely, you are holding negative beliefs that you picked up early on—from your parents, teachers, church, society.

We are constantly bombarded with messages and ideas that, rather than serving us, limit our fulfillment.

And these beliefs keep on showing up in our lives as the circumstances we encounter.

What’s important here is to use awareness to catch those limiting thoughts as they come up and eradicating them from our inner chatter repertoire.

You will then realize that you have the key to your own prison cell and that freedom is a choice you can make at any time.

And, by all means, do not limit this exercise to recurring problems. Practice this constantly and you will find yourself living a happier, more peaceful life.

Again, the key here is practice. With practice it will become second nature or, at least, you will be able to catch yourself early on in the process, so you can switch gears and stop the negativity before more damage is done.

Do not be frightened by our own shadows! Face them, embrace them and release them!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Sonia Frontera is a family attorney, empowerment trainer and full-time doggie mom. She is the proud survivor of an unhappy marriage, a liberating divorce and is living proof that there’s life after separation.  Sonia is the author of the #1 bestseller “Solve the Divorce Dilemma: Do You Keep Your Husband or Do You Post Him on Craigslist?”

She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at her internet home.

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