To Change Your Fruit, Change Your Root

I had one of those moments recently. You know the kind...where you had been looking at the world through one lens and suddenly, someone said something in a way that it caused a fundamental shift in perspective. The person was well-known speaker and author Jim Cathcart. What he said was something I've said myself on numerous occasions but when I heard him say it, well, I can only say it struck a chord in a profound way.

What did he say? In so many words it was this: If you want to change your fruit, you've got to change your root. In other words, if you're going to get a different outcome it's not just about changing external actions...it's about examining core beliefs (roots) that are producing the fruit in the first place and replacing them with beliefs that are aligned with the results you really want.

This is similar to what I've learned through working with Best Year Yet(R) about limiting paradigms. A paradigm is a fundamental belief about something. It may or may not actually be "true" but when we internalize a belief at our core as being true (usually through repetition or a significant emotional event), it becomes true for us. We then begin acting in accord with that fundamental belief. And in fairly short order we are producing fruit that bears witness to that root.

Here's an example: When I was in the 5th grade I had a male teacher who made it clear that he didn't think I was good at math and most likely never would be. He even told my mother in a conference, "she does 'okay' for a girl." Now, was there anything mentally that contributed to my lack of mathematical skill? Not to my knowledge. But that belief took root until soon enough it was bearing the fruit of less than stellar performance in math. I learned to avoid working with numbers and as a young adult, there were many times I ran from it rather than balancing my checkbook, for example. At one point I had so little confidence about my math skills that I allowed less than integrous people to help me manage my finances!

On the other hand, I've always believed I had a way with words. Is it any wonder I've carved out a career where speaking, writing and coaching are the core elements? This is just one example of how a limiting belief limits the fruit we bear and an empowering belief produces empowered actions.

So what's the message to you this week? Take a look at the "fruit" you're bearing in your life or business. Is it what you want? Are you reaping an abundant harvest of sales, relationships, fulfilling experiences? Are you operating at your personal peak of health and fitness? Is life a "daring adventure" for you? If not, I invite you to take a look at the root that is producing the fruit.

Are you filled with negativity about how you're not good at sales, or other people get all the breaks? Are you limiting yourself with beliefs about who "deserves" success (as in, not you)? Do you have an underlying belief that you're not athletic so you avoid exercise? I'll never forget the participant in a Best Year Yet program I did several years ago who experienced an epiphany and turnaround when she discovered that a primary belief she had internalized from her early childhood was this: "Good things don't happen to people like us." Imagine trying to produce sales, build relationships, grow your wealth, learn new things or live the life of your dreams if that is the fundamental "root" you're growing from.

This week take a look at where you're not producing the outcomes you'd like. Take some time to ask yourself a few deep questions and record the answers. Here are some questions for starters?

• What kind or amount of "fruit" am I producing?
• What kind of "root" thinking is producing that kind of fruit?
• What kind of fruit would I rather be producing?
• What kind of root will produce that fruit?
• If I was going to change the root, what belief would I have to dig up and change?
• What is keeping me from doing the kind of "root examination" that would be useful here?

Once you've taken this kind of honest inventory then it's time to take responsibility for defining and reinforcing the new belief system you've installed. Just as the old belief was strengthened through reinforcement, this new root will require repetition and lots of personal self-acknowledgement. But I assure you the results are worth it!

If you want to change the fruit, you've got to change the root. Will this be the week you start a new garden filled with the kind of results you so richly deserve? I hope your answer is a resounding "YES!"

Quote of the Week:

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

~~Anais Nin

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
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