We are the sum of our experiences and beliefs, including those that feel innate. But how do you overcome the heartache of past failures? By creating an avatar—a self-image—untethered to the past, one that reflects your dreams and highest aspirations. Live as this new self, fully. The next time you step outside, let go of who you used to be. Each day is a new life, and you don’t have to carry past traumas, insecurities, or shortcomings with you. To overcome weaknesses, act as if they were never part of you. Progress comes when we stop identifying with the person who made past mistakes or endured past pain; after all, the mindset that created the problem can’t be the one to solve it.
The brain is naturally wired to seek safety, often at the expense of fulfillment and joy. Our need for security shapes so much of what we do, and many of our beliefs stem from the first six years of life, inherited from our parents and closest authority figures. To "heal," we must become aware of this inherited, learned helplessness and see it for what it is—invalid. The will to grow is important, but the soil—the self-image that forms our foundation—is crucial.
