In my blog post Raising Your Standards – Part 1, we learned that every part of our lives is governed by a standard? We have a standard for everything, and we measure everything against that standard. A standard is something you are okay with.
We learned that in order to make changes in our lives, we have to raise our standards. The first two steps to raising your standards are you have to become disgusted, and then you have to change your identity or the way you view yourself. Be sure to check out Part 1 here.
The two final steps to raising your standards are:
3. Bust through your limiting beliefs.
We all have limiting beliefs that drive our behavior. I believe limiting beliefs are the number one limitation in our lives. Yes, circumstances may play a factor at times, but the narrative that’s playing out in our minds is typically what limits us.
If we want to raise our standards, we have to bust through our limiting beliefs. In his book, “Your Best Year Ever,” Michael Hyatt defines limiting beliefs as, “A misunderstanding of the present that shortchanges our future.” You may have said things like:
> “I don’t have a degree.”
> “I can’t do that.”
> “No one loves me. I’m damaged goods.”
> “I’m just not good with remembering names.”
Where do these limiting beliefs come from? A lot of times they come from the people in our lives. Maybe it was a teacher who said off-the-cuff comments about your abilities or intelligence. A coach may have made a comment like, “That’s not your shot,” and it just stuck with you. Many of our limiting beliefs have come from our fathers and mothers. They say things about us through the years, and we lock onto them. “You’re not as smart as your brother,” or “Why can’t you be more like your sister?”
If we’re going to bust through a limiting belief, Hyatt explains we have to replace it with a “liberating truth.” In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. (32) And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Free from what? Truth frees us from bondage and the lies that keep us from living the life God created us to live and reaching our full potential.
4. Change your environment.
The people directly around you shape who you are. They shape your future. A saying quoted by many people is, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” Your friends are like an elevator. They take you up or down, but they don’t let you stay where you are.
What direction are your friends taking you? Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Many of us need to fire some of our friends because they are hindering us from living up to our full potential.
If you want to raise your standards, you need to:
1. Become disgusted with your current standard.
2. Change your identity.
3. Bust through your limiting beliefs.
4. Change your environment.
Are you ready to raise your standards?
Be sure to check out the Breakthrough Podcast to receive more content on the topic Raising Your Standards.
Like this article? Subscribe!
Get email updates each time I post a new article!
