I once took a counseling class in college that opened my eyes to something very profound. I was required to write down all of my beliefs. Every belief I had. Then I was to write down why I believed in my belief. What happened? Where was I? How did it come about?

This exercise really helped me understand not only myself, but also to understand where my beliefs came from.

I remember going camping with my friend Jason when we were in junior high. This was my friends family annual week long summer camping trip and I was invited to come along.

One night while sitting close to the fire pit, some friends of Jasons family stopped by. Their friends were staying at a camp near by. Not long after their friends arrived I came to meet a man who would later teach me something that I came to highly believe in.

After roasting some marsh mellows over the hot fire, Jasons father started talking about how important it is to always give a good hand shake. Now at this time in my life, as a young Jr. High student, I never heard about giving a good hand shake. I dont recall having to shake many hands at that time.

After Jason got it down, they started to show me how to give a good hand shake. Give it there, kid, yelled Jasons dad. No, like this, as he slightly twisted my hand. There, now give it a good squeeze. You got it, said Jasons dad, as I began to smile. As the night went on, I felt as though I learned something very important. I believe I did. That night I learned the importance of always giving a good hand shake. From that day forward I believed it was important to always give a good hand shake.

Now this exercise was not to get the students to change their beliefs, but to know that each student "choose" to believe in their beliefs, and that they could change them. In addition, to realize that each of us take on curtain beliefs without even noticing it. After completing this exercise, most, if not all students, came to realize they had beliefs they were not aware of, and beliefs that were hindering themselves in some way.

Now it is very important to know your own beliefs. The reason it is important to know your beliefs is because what ever your belief is will become your reality. If you believe it is hard to make money, then you will find yourself with no money and hard to get it.

It is like buying a new car. Before you purchased your new car you never saw it on the road, but then after you bought your new car you saw one everywhere you went. What you focus on, you attract, what you believe and focus on you will receive in your life in some form or another, the Law of Attraction is at work all the time.

If someone "believes" that all the opportunities have passed them by, they will continue to see opportunities pass them by, and never see the opportunities that are in front of them. Read the book "Acres of Diamonds", and you will see what I mean.

Take some time to write down your beliefs. Do the exercise, and then ask yourself if your belief is helping you, or hindering you in some way.

By taking the time to do this exercise now, you will keep from limiting yourself from your full potential. By discovering any limiting beliefs, and changing them by first recognizing them, you will empower yourself to new heights.