Believe It or Not?

Welcome to The Sunday Starter, a weekly email of tools and techniques, that help you navigate your journey to just get started and keep moving forward.

If I had to pick one thing that's made a profound impact on my personal growth, it's being open to changing my mind.

Growing up, I used to get defensive when people said I was wrong, shutting out alternative opinions.

→ Ever felt that way, too?

We tend to cling to our beliefs, but do we really know if they're true?

That's what today's newsletter is all about – embracing different perspectives, not necessarily to change our minds completely, but to accept that others may see things differently, and that's perfectly okay.

🤔 Ever had a belief that's so "true" that you lose respect for opposing views?

→ We all have 'em. But let's dive into beliefs and see where growth lies:

What's a Belief? It's the feeling of being certain that something exists or is true.

The “feeling of being certain” is rooted in the environment we’ve been raised, the people we’ve been around, and the knowledge we acquire over our lifetime.

→ It’s not necessarily a stone-cold fact.

And that’s where we have a chance for growth.

One of my favorite exercises to do when I start to become negatively charged from a belief I have is to review Byron Katie’s 4 Questions and put my belief up to the test.

Her 4 Questions:

1. Is it true? 🤨

   → This is a simple yes or no? Is what you are thinking 100% true?

2. Can you absolutely know it's true? 🧐

   → This helps us dig deeper - What evidence do we have that would back up our claim that it is true?

3. How do you react when you believe that thought? 😡

   → When you believe it is true what emotions come over you? How do you react in the presence of people with an opposing view?

4. Who are you without the thought? 😌

   → What type of person would you be if you no longer held this belief? What stress or anxiety would fall away? How would you feel?

👉 Learn more about The Work from Byron Katie and even do some bonus work of “turning it around.

3 Things to Consider:

❗️ Recognize, we only know a fraction about what we believe. Humbling, right? We can't know everything, so clinging to a belief is futile.

✅ Remember, people can believe opposing things. True. What's also true: we can all be kind, compassionate beings wanting the best for the world. 💕 It’s not mutually exclusive.

🤝 Belief systems and cognitive bias shape who we hang with, fears we hold, and our path ahead. So, think about beliefs - are they holding you back from your best self? 🚀

It's challenge time once again!

This week it’s simple…sort of.

→ What belief has caused the most animosity with a spouse, friends, colleagues, etc this past year?

Go through Byron Katie’s 4 questions and see if it holds up.

That 5-minute practice might be the exact thing you need to shift your thinking in a new direction.

What’s Coming Next:

Next week we’re going to discuss the Learning Curve and how we can prepare ourselves for the journey of starting anything new.

Thanks again for your support with this newsletter.

❓What did you think? I’d love feedback in order to continue to make this a superb resource for everyone. It can be positive or negative. Nothing is off limits so reply to this email and I’d love to hear from you.

✅ When you complete the challenge, Reply directly to this email and please share what putting your belief up against the 4 questions did for you.

How can I support your journey?

🙏 One of the coolest things about building the Just Get Started platform over the last several years is the number of interactions with new and interesting people who are on the cusp of getting started or early in their journey.

If I can support you in any way, please let me know. You can reply to this email and let me know what’s going on in your world. I’ll try to help where I can!