3 Steps to Let Go of 'Assumptions' — Wayne Dyer's Path to Mental Freedom

In yesterday's article, I shared the core of Wayne Dyer's teachings.

It is not your environment or other people that limit your life, but your own 'assumptions'.

However, some of you might have thought:

'I understand that, but what should I do then?'

Today is exactly about that. I will share the 'how-to' for removing assumptions as proposed by Dyer, broken down into three practical steps.

◆ Why 'assumptions' are not easily removed

First, I want you to understand why assumptions are difficult to remove.

According to Dyer, many of our assumptions are formed in childhood. Words repeatedly spoken by parents, teachers, friends, and society eventually take root as our own 'beliefs'.

For example, someone who was constantly told 'you can't do it' as a child will judge things as an adult based on the premise that 'I cannot do it.' The person does not realize it is an assumption. They believe it is a 'fact'.

That is precisely why the first step is to 'become aware'.

◆ Step 1: Listen to your 'inner voice'

What Dyer recommends first is to pay attention to the words repeating inside your head.

Usually, we are unconsciously talking to ourselves.

'It won't work anyway'

'I'm bound to fail again'

'Someone like me shouldn't stand out'

These kinds of words are the brakes limiting your actions.

There is an exercise I want you to try starting today.

For five minutes before going to sleep at night, try to recall the words you said to yourself in your mind today and write them down in a notebook. Both positive and negative ones.

Just writing them down is enough. You don't need to judge them. Simply noticing, 'Oh, I am saying these things to myself,' is where the first change begins.

◆ Step 2: Ask yourself, 'Is that really a fact?'

Choose one negative thought from the words you wrote down.

Then, ask yourself this:

'Is that really a fact?'

For example, the assumption that 'I am bad at speaking in front of people.' Is this a fact?

Have you not had even one experience in the past where you spoke well in front of others? A moment when you had a fun conversation with a friend? A time you were praised for a small presentation?

Dyer says, 'Assumptions are reinforced by the evidence you collect.'

When we think 'I'm bad at it,' we only collect memories of failure. But evidence to the contrary always exists. Just by noticing that, the power of the assumption begins to weaken.

◆ Step 3: Choose a 'new belief'

The final step is to rewrite your old assumptions into 'new beliefs.'

What makes Dyer's approach unique is that he doesn't say, 'Overwrite it with positive thinking.' You don't need to force yourself to believe, 'I am amazing!'

Instead, it is enough to just broaden your options by saying, 'I have believed this until now, but there are other possibilities.'

'I am bad at speaking in front of people' → 'There is a possibility that I can get used to speaking in front of people.'

'It is difficult to earn money' → 'It might just be that I don't know the ways to earn money yet.'

This small shift will eventually create a big change. Dyer called this a 'shift in consciousness.'

The important thing is not to try to change all at once. Notice one old assumption every day and rewrite it into a new possibility. That is enough.

◆ About tomorrow's paid article

Tomorrow is the final installment of this three-day series. I will summarize Dyer's teachings into a 'Complete Practical Program'.

I will delve deeper into the three steps introduced today and share concrete methods that you can easily continue in your daily life. If you are serious about graduating from 'wanting to change but being unable to,' please be sure to read it.

Thank you for reading today as well.

MIO

◆ For those who want to learn more deeply — A recommended book

A book where you can learn the method of 'noticing and rewriting assumptions' introduced in today's article more systematically. It is packed with tips to simply organize your daily habits and way of thinking, and you can put it into practice immediately after reading.

📖 'Smart People Live Simply'

By Wayne W. Dyer / Translated by Shoichi Watanabe
A book for those who want to stop 'overthinking' and live more simply.

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