WHAT ARE THE BOXES YOU PUT YOURSELF IN
LIVING IN "BOX PRISON"
This is a worthwhile exercise doing - and for some people it will be a key life changer. I'll be expanding on this more as I tie into an overall book. Meanwhile do it (and email me what you got out of it and any examples of what you've written, please). Contact
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We put ourselves in boxes that are artificial and limiting and with no real benefit overall. It's a little like having been a little baby elephant trained by chaining to a small stake and still feeling chained down as a big elephant, who is actually strong enough to pull that little teeny stake out of the ground easily.
A box is a limitation of what you can do for yourself, such as I must please others and never let them down or I must do a spectacular job on things in order to be worthy and to be liked.
SOME "ARTIFICIAL" BOXES
Dependency box - Dependent on people or outside events
Financial boxes - lots here
Barely getting by
Morality concepts that are false standards
Obligations
Politeness
Being "nice"
Having to 'look good' (see also Approval)
Personality - this is who I must be or who people expect me to be
Protecting oneself from any rejection
Perfectionism box
How unforgiving you expect others are of you
I must be strong like a hero
Other people's expectations (and/or what you think they are)
"I'm not good enough", self-esteem
THE "BOXES" EXERCISE - MAKING NEW CHOICES
I. Identify your boxes (list them). 5 minutes
II. A sheet of paper for each. Write for no more than 10 minutes:
Write the box name at the top of a sheet of paper
How does this box hold me in
What is the benefit I derive from this box? Do I still need that or is it a "holdover" from childhood or just a plain false belief?
Is it a real box? Or a conceptual box?
What would be the benefits of breaking out of this box or at least creating a bigger box with alot more room?
Write out "My Commitment As To What I Will Do:"
III. Review what you've written daily for 30 days, deciding anew each day what you will do.
