“I have been writing my affirmations and thinking positive thoughts, but not much is happening,” shared a colleague. “Sure, I’m happier, which is great. But if I don’t stay on top of it like white on rice, all the old beliefs and thought habits come rushing back. What gives?”
I understand the frustration my colleague experienced. It’s fantastic that she’d been proactive with affirmations and positive thinking, and she was clearly seeing some positive shifts. However, consistently maintaining this positive mindset can be challenging, as old thought patterns tend to resurface.
This is a common hurdle, and it’s essential to recognize that a fundamental aspect of changing limiting beliefs often goes unnoticed or needs to be well-explained by those who have successfully navigated this process.
To make significant headway, it’s crucial to understand the origins of these limiting beliefs and address them at their core. This involves looking into the 4 levels of human consciousness, which play a significant role in shaping our thought patterns.
4 Main Levels of Consciousness
1. Beta – 12-40 Hz:
This is the state of consciousness when we’re awake and alert, fully attuned to our external surroundings. You’re likely in this state as you read this. It’s when you’re most responsive to stimuli in your environment. The more stressed you are, the higher the beta waves.
2. Alpha – 8-12 Hz:
This is the state preceding sleep or upon waking up, lasting for about 30 minutes. It’s characterized by a transitional phase where the external world begins to fade. This state is also associated with being “in the zone” or deeply engaged with something you’re passionate about. You are in this so-called waking alpha when you resonate with something or when “time just flew by.”
3. Theta – 4-8 Hz:
Theta is the state experienced during REM sleep. It’s a phase of deep relaxation and connection with intuition, making it an optimal state for hypnosis, healing, and intuitive insights. However, the challenge lies in the fact that one is asleep during theta. Yet it’s the back door to your non-consciousness.
4. Delta – 0.5-4 Hz:
This is the phase of deep sleep, where one is completely disconnected from the external world. It’s a time when the body prioritizes healing and repair without any distractions. Did you ever sleep through a massive thunderstorm above the house that kept up everyone and the dog but you? You were most likely in the delta phase.
How Are Mind States Relevant to Limiting Beliefs?
Understanding these mind states is pivotal in addressing limiting beliefs. Consider this: during the first few months after birth, a baby’s brain predominantly operates in the delta, even when awake, which explains their dreamy disposition.
From 3 months to around 5-7 years, the waking brain primarily resides in theta. As children age from 5-7 to 12 years, it shifts towards alpha.
It’s noteworthy that both theta and alpha states are hypnotic in nature. This is the critical juncture where environmental influences and experiences shape a child’s non-consciousness, laying the foundation for limiting beliefs.
For instance, if a child is frequently exposed to negative discussions about wealth, they may internalize a belief that money is inherently negative.
Your parents kept talking poorly about wealthy neighbors? You most likely have a belief in you that money is evil. Did they fight over not having enough money? You may believe there’s not enough money for you. You were hit when you made a mistake? You most likely don’t take risks for fear of making a mistake. And bad things happen when you make a mistake. On and on it goes.
To truly uproot these limiting beliefs, one must access the alpha and theta states. This is where the deep work occurs, enabling the rewriting these deeply ingrained thought patterns. Embracing these states offers the opportunity for lasting transformation and the establishment of new, empowering, and limitless beliefs.