Even with the best directions there will always be a trial and error process involved with taking the journey from where you are to where you want to be in life.

Think of it as the learning curve.

It should be viewed as a process of internalization. These are the steps you take in order to make the understanding and implementation of that understanding “second nature”. In other words, once you “get it” you are able to apply the new information automatically whenever the need arises.

You’ve probably already experienced this many times before. (It’s a natural process) Whenever you begin to do something new, you go through a learning curve. It always gets easier to do the new thing as time goes on. Ironically, this doesn’t always apply to those “new” things you may embark upon which are associated with self-growth.

Let me explain:

You’re not a finite piece of software or a machine. Yet, in order to get from where you are now in your life to where you want to be, you still have to understand and master your own “operating system”.

What differentiates your operating system from any other type of software or machine is that your “OS” has infinite capabilities, is fully relational and constantly evolving.

1. Infinite capabilities: The outer limits of your imagination constitute an ever changing limitation to what (you believe) is possible in your life. As you recognize the limitation you have placed upon yourself you can choose to change it. (your belief) Remember: This point within yourself is never permanently fixed. The “edge” of what you believe “is possible” is always what you currently accept it to be. At any given time, your imagination, coupled with your belief, determines that “edge”. Think of it as the current height of your personal “glass ceiling”.

2. Fully relational: This means if you change one aspect of what you imagine or believe, your attitudes, opinions and other beliefs begin to realign in relationship to that new belief. This is the part that can cause a bit of frustration at times. Especially when the new belief creates a conflict with previously held beliefs. It takes time for the new belief to fully propagate itself into your “consciousness”. So you are going to entail some trial and error during this part of the process. Think of it as “testing” whether or not the new belief holds up under real-world situations.

This is going to require some paying attention, on your part, when these situations arise. You will have to consciously apply the new belief to the situation and determine whether or not the results are what you hoped for.

3. Glass ceiling: This is always a temporary situation! For all intents and purposes, it’s an invisible resistance to actually living the belief or dream. You can “see” it but you’re not “there” yet. Your learning curve is what dissolves the glass ceiling and turns a belief or dream into reality. Just remember: Because you can “see” it means you are already in the process of dissolving the glass. Just don’t give up on the learning curve before you’ve achieved your desire.

One of the great lessons of life is that you can create your own future…and that it will always be what you expect it to be. Change your expectations and your future changes. Your new reality will be the result of your internal evolution coupled with your external actions which support your expectations. The real learning curve are those trial and error activities which will serve to either reinforce or discourage your belief in those expectations.

Ironically, whether or not an outcome from a trial and error activity reinforces or discourages your expectations will always be a decision only you have the power to make.

-Bob Baran