Tony Robbins -Re-Awaken_the_Giant_Within

IDENTITY: THE KEY TO EXPANSION
There were no marks on his body. The Chinese Communists had held him captive in a tiny room for
more than twenty hours, but they hadn’t beaten or tortured him. They had even offered him a cigarette
or two . . . and as a result of their polite conversation, this GI now held a document in his own
handwriting detailing the countless injustices and destructiveness of the American way of life—the
capitalist society—and praising the superiority and ethical humanity of the Communist system. What’s
more, the essay this officer of the U.S. Army had written was now being broadcast to his and other
POW camps in North Korea, as well as to the American forces stationed in South Korea. He would later
divulge military information, turn in his fellow prisoners, and fervently denounce his own country.
What caused this man to completely reverse his worldview and dismantle the beliefs that had been
instilled in him over a lifetime? What caused him to abandon the core values he’d previously held and
become a collaborator with the enemy? What single change would make such a radical shift in the
thoughts, emotions, and actions of an individual?
The answer lies in understanding that he was directed down a path that caused him to literally shift his
identity. He was now simply acting in accordance with his new image of himself.
Throughout this book you’ve explored with me the impact of beliefs, one of the foundational elements
in the Master System that directs all of our evaluations. Beliefs guide us to conclusions, and therefore
they teach us how to feel and what to do. However, there are different levels of beliefs that have different
levels of impact on the quality of our lives. Some are very specific. For example, the beliefs you have
about a particular friend will determine how you think and feel about his behavior, and the meaning that
you’ll link to anything that he does. If you “know” that he is loving, then even if he appears to be angry
at the moment, you will not question his ultimate intent. This belief will guide all of your interactions
with this person. But this will not necessarily affect the way you deal with a stranger. These beliefs
impact you in only one specific area of your life: your interactions with this friend.
Some beliefs, however, have an expanded influence on your life; I call these global beliefs. These are the
beliefs that have much further-reaching consequences. For example, the beliefs you have about people
in general will affect not just the way you deal with your friend, but with everyone you meet. These
beliefs will powerfully impact your career, your level of trust, your marriage, and so forth.
The global beliefs you have about the concepts of scarcity and abundance, for example, will determine
your stress level and your generosity of time, money, energy, and spirit. If you believe we live in a world
with scarce resources—where there’s only so much money, so much time, so much love—then you’ll
constantly live in fear that you won’t have enough. This stress will affect the way you think of your
neighbors, your co-workers, your financial capabilities, and opportunities in general.
©2013 Robbins Research International. www.tonyrobbins.com 71