Too often we get caught up in holding on to "our way" of thinking and doing things, even when the old ways haven't served us very well. As we look forward to the posibilities that Spring and Summer bring, it might serve us to consider what new and exciting possibilities we'll allow for ourselves.

I'd like to give you a "twist" on a line I've used in the past. It reflects a more positive perspective for making things work in our lifes. Try this:

"If you want to have something different than you've ever had before, you have to do something different than you've ever done before!"

How clear are you on what you want for yourself. Not just what you want to acomplish, but also "who you're trying to become". Too often we don't step back far enough to ask ourselves what we're really after. Gaining insight about what you want requires paying close attention to what matters to you. That might mean letting go of the struggle to meet other people's ideas for you instead of creating your own agenda. For most people this can sound a little scary.

To get what you really want also requires being willing to allow yourself to have what you really want. Whether it's better relationships, more enjoyable and rewarding work or simply feeling better about yourself. You can't expect to get what you want if you don't believe you can/should have it. Giving ourselves permission to have what we want "flys in the face" of what we've been taught.

Think about your ideas on relationships, money, success, greater self esteem or whatever you desire. How comfortable do you feel about wanting more or better? Do you believe you have to make a choice between these, but can't have them all? Are you concerned about what others might say or think if they knew what you really wanted? How self-limiting are your answers to these questions?

The truth is, most of us have values and beliefs that do limit our potential. There is a common thought pattern that seems to get in our way. It's a belief that:

"We're supposed to be perfect, but it's not okay to think we're good"

This single idea can keep us struggling so hard to do what we think we "should or ought" to do that we seldom allow ourselves to consider what we want. Many of us actually have bought into the idea that if we were "allowed" to do what we wanted that our choices would be bad. However, when we work for our "best interest" we are far more likely to get results they bring real value to our lifes, and others too. Letting go of self-limiting ideas may be the most important thing you can "do".