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The Conscious Path to your Values and Beliefs, part II
I think the best way for me to convey to you not only the meaning of values, beliefs and behaviors, but also how they interconnect and ultimately shape our realities is by giving you an example using a process that I call the molecule model, also known as the mind mapping technique. Using this technique, I will illustrate a process that you can duplicate for yourself. I recommend you do it after you have completed part I, where you narrowed down your core values. They will be the starting point for this process, which will be simplified for the sake of understanding.
Let me share one of my core values with you, serenity. For me, serenity is a fundamental value, one that is supported by several beliefs. Perhaps other people may share this value but not necessarily the same beliefs or associated behaviors. For example, I believe that I experience serenity by living in an appropriate physical environment. So, appropriate environment is a belief associated with my value serenity. I can also better define this environment. I like to have greenery and water flowing nearby, so the belief environment creates some behaviors. One behavior is to live in a neighborhood that fits my definition of environment. I also include my work environment in the definition as well, so it creates another behavior for the location and the type of office that I want to have.
Let me give you another example. I believe that in order for me to experience serenity I have to follow my heart in my work/career. Therefore work/career is a belief associated with serenity. This belief results in several behaviors on how I express my self in my work/career. One behavior is being a writer, another is being a facilitator, another is being a coach and another one is being an entrepreneur.
I also believe that vitality brings me serenity. This belief generates several behaviors. In order to have vitality I practice the energy awareness exercises of the Conscious Path system. Another behavior that supports my belief regarding vitality is to have regular massages to relax my body. Another is to exercise and make it stronger and have appropriate nutrition to keep my body healthy. Vitality is also a belief connected with another molecule of mine, Love.
As you can see, we can really explore the structure of our values, beliefs and behaviors. You can start this exercise by writing one value in the center of a piece of paper. Then, draw a diamond around it. Then draw a line connecting the diamond to a circle and inside the circle write a belief that is associated with your value. Then draw another line connecting to a rectangle and write down a behavior associated with your belief inside of it. Repeat the process for all possible behaviors associated with that belief. Then repeat the process for all possible beliefs associated with your value and for all possible behaviors associated with your beliefs. See my example below.
This conscious way of exploring may lead you to change some of your beliefs and behaviors. If you really take the time to explore your values using the molecule model, you will be able to see if your behaviors are congruent with each other. It may take a few days for you to really tweak your mapping. And commitment to follow through with your changes.
You may need to create new behaviors, which in turn may create a new set of goals or projects. For example, my behavior of structuring a successful business created a long-term goal with several steps, and also an on-going and ever-changing project with multiple tasks. It has also shifted other values, beliefs and behaviors related to money, lifestyle and relationships, for which I had to set new priorities and change my life accordingly.
As you map out the structure of a value you gain more control of its manifestation. For example, if for some reason I am not experiencing serenity, I can examine my behaviors to see if I am sabotaging my self in any particular area. It could be a conflict with beliefs and behaviors from another value. The bottom line is that I take immediate action because it is easier to see where I could be experiencing the conflict. The molecule model is a great tool to work with as it gives a clear visual of our belief system and patterns of manifestation.
I really like to explore this mapping exercise in workshops and in my coaching practice with clients. It is amazing to see how people feel after exploring and creating their molecules. It is not only fun, but also very healing and empowering for them. It clearly shows how multidimensional and interconnected our lives really are and how our conflicting intentions and behaviors manifest, so we can create changes. And as we resolve a conflict we gain new awareness of our Core Interactions, of our personality and body, shifting attitudes and perceptions through renewed states of consciousness.
This is also a powerful and effective way to use the Conscious Path’s energy awareness course exercises because they will not only sharpen your mental focus and energetically clear some blocks but will also facilitate a deeper connection with your true Essence through using your intuition. You may experience a few “Ahahs” as a result.
After getting clear with our values, beliefs and behaviors we can review and set new goals to support what is important to us. Empowerment comes from being authentic and conscious of our choices. The feeling of self-realization increases as we honor our choices. The state of wholeness becomes more present, more real. When we become conscious of our behaviors and beliefs, and how they support our values, we step into a new dimension of being. As we align them with our goals, life has more meaning, or purpose. Then, with good planning, our goals become not only achievable, but really meaningful. And when we achieve them we experience a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which moves us forward with confidence towards other goals.
The pattern that I have seen through the many years of assisting people in the process of clarifying their lives is that most people’s frustrations come from creating life from a conscious or unconscious perspective of fulfilling other people’s expectations. This is why sometimes we may achieve a long sought after goal and feel no sense of accomplishment at all. This happens more often with goals that are personality driven, since our personality is built around beliefs that are influenced by our responses to the environment and circumstances.
But if we give ourselves permission to look at the frustration, we may find out the reason why we set the goal in the first place and perhaps find the ego driven belief that created it. The rewards in changing personality driven beliefs and patterns are many and reflected by an increase in our fulfillment levels.
When we are clear and congruent with our values, beliefs and behaviors we become a magnet to our goals.
First, our certainty about them increases. Then, they come to us effortlessly, with joy, regardless of how much we have to work on them. By staying present with our work, we get into a state of consciousness that is highly focused, so we don’t see work as work but as a source of presence with our selves and others. Results flow as a consequence of synergy, consistency and objective action that are in direct alignment with our Essence.
If you want to attract, create or develop personal relationships that are loving and meaningful, then explore and share your values with other people. You will attract people who resonate with what is important to you, increasing the bond. Couples can also find common ground to improve their relationship and to create meaningful goals together. Couples can create goals that support what is important to both, even if there is a need to compromise a little, achieved only through unconditional love.
As you get clear with your values, beliefs and behaviors your professional life will greatly improve as well. You will be able to better understand and respect other people’s values especially if you work in a multicultural environment, creating more flow in your day to day. And if they are conscious of theirs, communication improves, which can open a door for conscious exploration of personality traits and ego driven behaviors, especially if the organization values teamwork. And as I said before, you will also be able to better align what is important to you with what is important to your employer, which will increase your job satisfaction and performance.
Would you like to experience synergy, resonance, synchronicity and serendipity in your life? Then, get clear on your values and beliefs and create appropriate behaviors for them. Then, from a neutral perspective, take a look at the role your personality type is playing in your life right now to see if you have conflicting intentions. Adjust the behaviors accordingly. It may take some work but it is well worth the effort.
But don’t take my word for it. Do it for yourself and witness the emergence of a new Consciousness, the birth of a new life for yourself. And have fun with it!
Copyright©2006 Miguel Franco
all rights reserved
