How Beliefs Impact Your Life
By Lori B. Lipten, M.A.
Most of what we experience in life is based on what we believe about our world, ourselves, our abilities and limits. Beliefs tend to be accepted as true. But what if our beliefs were wrong? Most of the great scientists, philosphers, inventors and thinkers throughout history have dared to challenge what was accepted as reality. Breakthroughs and new horizons are revealed by openly questioning commonly held beliefs.

To live our creative potential we can begin by challenging the readily accepted beliefs we hold onto that shape who we are and what we experience. In his book, The Biology of Belief, Dr. Bruce Lipton shares exciting new data that our DNA can be upgraded through intentional choice. Cellular science reveals that our interpretation of our environment directly impacts the actitivity within our genes. Other scientists are unraveling similar findings about the power of our perceptions to shift our physiology and experience in life.

Victor Frankl made an astounding discovery in the darkest hour of his life while in a nazi concentration camp. He stated, “our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happen overnight. The last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, is to choose one's own way.” Frankl and Lipton are not talking about will power, reciting positive affirmations or giving oneself a pep talk. Instead, the invitation is to discover meaning and conscious choice in every moment of life, no matter the circumstances we face. This is a courageous and substantive response to life.

Beliefs are held within the subconscious mind. They are formed throughout early development, when we exist in a highly suggestive brain state called a hypnagogic state. During this profoundly impressionable phase of development, habits and beliefs become programmed and embedded in the subconscious. Children adapt the beliefs that determine perceptions through imitation of the adults, peers and other influences within their environment.

According to cellular science, when the subconscious mind perceives safety and supportiveness, cellular structures thrive. When stress is perceived by the mind, cellular structures stop focusing on growth and eventually deteriorate. The mind’s perceptions are shaping physiological outcomes of our cells that influence health, mental acuity, emotional balance and even spiritual fulfillment.

We are capable of overriding the beliefs stored within our subconscious mind. Beliefs exist within the mind like a stored file. When a circumstance arises, the subconscious mind responds by uploading the stored file that resembles current dynamics. This “belief file” immediately instructs the cellular structures of the mind, body and emotions to perceive and respond to reality based on the past. Through intentional choice however, one can re-write the subconscious file and create a whole new destiny.

There are many new methods that can be employed to support you in disarming old belief habits and allowing whole new horizons to be discovered and created. Meditation, mindfulness, energy psychology, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are a few of the modalities that can support re-writing new subconscious programs that serve overall health in mind, emotions, body and spirit. Deep breathing will stop the autopilot functioning of the reactive subconscious and allow a new script to be inserted. Creative visualization that employs all the senses directs your cellular functioning so a whole new creation cycle can emerge through you intentionally. When Victor Frankl told us that we can choose our own way, little did he know that science would uncover this very truth: you have the ability to directly impact your cellular health through your conscious choices. That is how powerful you are!

About the Author
Copyright © 2009 by Lori B. Lipten, M.A.
Lori Lipten, M.A. is the founder of Sacred Balance a practice devoted to Conscious Living. She provides Intuitive Consultations, coaching and workshops that promote intentional living. Lori will be holding a book club discussion, July 9 on the Power of Belief authored by Ray Dodd. Lipten provides workshops on Intuitive Development, Conscious Creation and Meditation.