How to overwrite your past mental programming and conditioning.

You may have heard it before that your past programming and conditioning are among the causes for your lack of personal growth and success in life.

They are those things that you have been so used to thinking, believing and doing that are stopping you from crossing the line, overcoming the challenges and getting over the hump.

It doesn't matter if these conditionings came from your parents, the culture, the schools or the media. The effects are the same. Wrong programming brings about wrong thoughts that leads to erroneous attitude and unfulfilling results. Finally when the day is done, you say "That's the way it is meant for me."

But that's not the way it should be. We humans, keep forgetting that we are in full control of our mind, thoughts, attitudes and actions. We can't control people's reactions and circumstances but we can participate positively in life that would bring out more of the outcome that we anticipate.

If you have been living a lackluster kind of life and always hoping that things would change for the better, it is never too late to experience something better.

Even if you have gone through four decades of mediocrity, you can if you want to, enjoy a more meaningful and abundant lifestyle.

Think of it this way, what would your life become and how would you feel if you don't change for the next ten years. Ponder also how different your future would become if you do change your programming and conditioning.

Most times, people need someone to let them see that. Other times, pain and sufferings are the ones that suddenly jolt them from their trance like existence.

How do you break through your old programming and conditioning and limited thinking?

• Set your goals and a vision of a better future.

A new day is a clean slate. It gives you another chance to repeat the things that you did yesterday or to work on something different. It gives you another opportunity to try what you have not tried before. You can mend your errors and duplicate your success.

But first you must have your list of goals, the things you want to do, have and the person you want to become. It's that clear vision of your future.

Does it require additional resources to list down your goals? Nope, just a pen and a piece of paper. Put on your creative imagination cap and write. Ignore your past failures and limited mental programming and conditioning. Focus on what you do want and attach your emotions. Associate the pain of staying the same and the pleasure of accomplishment.

• Choose your environment and the people that you allow in your life.

Take a serious look at your environment and the people that you have allowed in your life. If you are not happy on your progress and life, perhaps you should decide now to discard those that have been getting in your way to your personal growth and success. It's all right to leave behind those people who keep pulling you back and wanting you to remain consistent but also mediocre.

It's okay to move out of the comfort zone and experience something else that's uncertain. Hey, as long as it's not a life or death situation, you'll come out fine. Don't believe in your past programming and conditioning that tells you to stay put because if you do, you are only shortchanging the balance of your remaining existence.

Remember, doing new things allow for new experiences and they make you a better and more knowledgeable person. With more knowledge, comes better understanding and allows for improved skills and a better attitude. You'll then wonder why you have not had the guts before.

Make a choice to hang around with positive people who will change your past programming and conditioning and the course of your life. Put your time to good use by reading and learning. Move away from situations and environments that have been obstructing you from experiencing more love, life and living.

• Discipline, efforts and persistence.

What if you were told that you have little time left to breathe on this planet? Probably you would either slump in self-pity and cry "why me" or do your best with what you have to make the best of what is left.

You are not in that situation and because of this, you may be taking life too much for granted; doing a little this and that and putting other things off. There is still tomorrow right?

But what if you discipline yourself to do everything you can think of today that would bring you closer to your goals? What if you keep on keeping on in spite of the lack of progress and persist?

So what if you have been made to believe that it's too late, you're too old or that it could never be done. Do it anyway, do it well and continue until you get to where you really want to be at and become. Results beat previous mental programming and conditioning that have not been helping you.

• Believe and have faith in yourself.

In whatever you attempt, believe in yourself and have faith. It helps you overcome those challenges that come in your way. By the way, challenges are just those things that you have not experienced and have not solved before.

Who would stop you from achieving your goals if you know what kind of future you want to have? It's all up to you to break through your past programming and conditioning and acquire new knowledge through the many available resources to break your limiting mindset.

Return to top of programming and conditioning page.