Sabotaging Your Good
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 16:46
Have you heard the stories of lottery winners who make it big, and then within a year or two, suddenly lose all their money and find themselves back in the same financial situation before they won the lottery?
You might be thinking to yourself, "That would never be me! I would take better care of my money and not go on a spending spree!"
But alas, don't you think that's what some of these lottery winners might have been thinking themselves?
This same phenomenon happens to lots of people who haven't won the lottery. Some people find themselves bringing in more money than before, and all of a sudden, their spending goes up to match it. For some, their spending goes beyond their means and they find themselves with even more debt than ever before!
And it's not just limited to money. It also happens in relationships.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were dating this fabulous guy and you have the most perfect time together, and then all of a sudden a little squabble or fight comes up between the two of you? It seems to come up out of nowhere and you're wondering to yourself, "What the heck just happened? I thought we were having the time of our lives?"
Here's the answer to why this happens.
It's called the Upper Limit Problem.
Personal development expert Gay Hendricks talks about it in one of his latest books The Big Leap. Basically, the Upper Limit Problem is an internal thermostat that you all have within you. You're used to having a certain amount of good in your life - having so much money in your bank account, experiencing so much love, enjoying life up to a certain point.
What happens is that when you experience more good in your life than you were used to (i.e., an influx of money, more love in our relationships, everything seeming to go our way), the internal thermostat kicks in. If you're not equipped to handle it, then you tend to do things that sabotage your good!
For some people, it means spending beyond your means. For others, it means going out and drinking alcohol to a point of getting drunk. And for other people, it means nitpicking at potential date partners because they don't fit all the criteria in your mind, even though you may have had a great time with that guy.
Sounds crazy, but think back and see if you've done it to yourself?
Everyone in this world has an Upper Limit Problem, so don't feel bad if you've discovered it in yourself! The Upper Limit Problem is a basic function of the ego to keep you safe in your comfort zone so that you don't hurt yourself or feel bad.
But the goal is to surpass the Upper Limit Problem so that you CAN experience more and more good in your life...Abundant Good!
So here's what you do...start noticing in your life when you don't feel so good, like when you question if you're good enough, or if you're having a fight with a friend or loved one, or if you think that you have to stay in a job you hate just to pay the bills...it's usually a sign that you've reached your Upper Limit Problem.
The next step is to bring an awareness to it and say, "Okay, Upper Limit Problem. Here you are showing up! I know you're there to protect me, but you're actually holding me back right now from being, doing and having what I really want in my life. So thank you for showing up, but I'm going to keep on going. Because I want more good in my life!"
Or Gay Hendricks has what he calls the Upper Success Mantra..."I expand in abundance, success and love every day, as I inspire those around me to do the same."
Use this mantra whenever those feelings come up.
This may sound simple, but try it. You may be surprised at how a simple step like this can make huge changes in your life!
I'm curious to hear how the Upper Limit Problem has shown up in your life. Please share any comments you have so we can learn from each other!
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