Why Beliefs Matter More Than Goals

Do your goals consistently elude you? It may be that you have a hidden belief blocking your success. Find out how to find out if you have one in this mini podcast.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Why Beliefs Matter More Than Goals

Everyone talks about setting goals. It’s like a worldwide obsession. You’ve probably heard this joke:
 "The reason we set goals is so we can keep track of everything we’ve failed at."

Sounds harsh, but think about it—goal setting is easy. Every New Year, we grab a notebook and start listing things we want to achieve. If we’re really serious, we map out action plans, maybe even try visualization techniques—thank you, The Secret.

Then what happens? A few months (or weeks) in, we give up. The action plan isn’t working, we get frustrated, and before we know it, the cycle repeats next year.

Now, I’m not here to trash goal setting. It’s important. But most people focus on the wrong thing. They put all their energy into the process—the sizzle—without addressing the real issue: their beliefs.

Let’s say you set a goal to run the Boston Marathon. You train, you visualize yourself crossing the finish line. But if deep down you don’t actually believe you can do it? You’ll quit before you ever reach Heartbreak Hill.

Beliefs don’t care about logic. If you’ve struggled to reach goals before, chances are, there’s a hidden belief working against you. You take one step forward, two steps back—not because you’re lazy, but because something inside you is sabotaging your progress.

Here’s how to check: If you really want something but lose motivation fast, there’s a belief in you that’s shutting it down. And no, you can’t just “positive-think” your way past it. You need a better approach.

Here’s what to do:

1. Recognize that your belief had a purpose. It was created to protect you at some point. Maybe as a kid, you learned that failing felt humiliating, so now your brain avoids risk. That belief is outdated, but it’s still running the show.
   
   
2. Respect it. Your mind was just following orders, building patterns based on what you needed back then. Don’t fight it—acknowledge it.
   
   
3. Apologize to yourself. Sounds weird, but stay with me. You gave your brain bad information in the past. Say, “Hey, I didn’t know better then, but I do now.”
   
   
4. Treat that part of you like family. It’s been working hard to protect you. Let it know you appreciate it, but that it’s time for an upgrade.
   
   
5. Ask for a new belief. Request that your mind replace the old, limiting thought with one that actually helps you. This is where visualization comes in—feeling the new belief as if it’s already real.

Do this regularly, and watch what happens. You’ll start to see those old roadblocks disappear.

Success isn’t just about setting goals. It’s about believing—deep down—that you can actually have what you want.

All the best,
 John