| There’s a fascinating story about fleas in a jar that perfectly illustrates how our inner narratives (stories) limit us from living bigger and fuller lives. While fleas can naturally jump up to 60 times their height, when placed in a covered jar for an extended period, they adjust their jumping height to stay just below the lid. Even after the lid is removed, they continue jumping only to this artificial ceiling. Every day, we humans are also held back by self-imposed artificial ceilings. The self-limiting beliefs we’ve developed over a lifetime— what I call “deep stories” —act as invisible lids on our potential. These stories feel absolutely real to us, just as the nonexistent lid remains real to the fleas. Consider this example: If you believe that your opinion isn’t important and/or that others don’t care about your opinion, that belief becomes your reality. It’s natural that you would withhold your ideas. But by recognizing this as merely a story you’ve internalized, you can challenge it and break free from its constraints. Ready to discover and shatter your invisible lids? Download this handout from the Coach Your Self Up online program to identify some limiting beliefs that might be holding you back. |
| Inner Work Insight Once we understand “not doing,” we see that the real struggle is to relax into greater awareness so that we can see the manifestations of our personality. By neither acting on our automatic impulses nor suppressing them, we begin to understand what is causing them to arise. (The Wisdom of the Enneagram, pg. 346) |