Michael Broder is away this week but will continue posting next week.

Thank you.

Here are some examples of the most common attitudes or beliefs behind the hooks that disrupt your stage climb by the seven stages. Resolve, on an ongoing basis, to challenge and change any of them that continue to get in your way or hold you back. This is a crucial aspect to being in complete charge of your life.

To challenge a self-defeating belief or attitude, first ask yourself if that belief is “absolutely true.” Once you’ve established reasonable doubt as to whether the stifling belief is the truth and one you want to live by, look for a higher stage attitude or belief that works for you to replace it. Numerous examples of these appear throughout the book Stage Climbing: The Shortest Path to Your Highest Potential. However, the easiest way to get a higher stage alternative is simply to ask yourself, “What would I prefer to believe, think or feel about this?” Then make sure you tweak your answer to that question until the new attitude or belief fits you exactly. This simple exercise puts your attitudes and beliefs under your control, which can be the critical factor for living your life at the target stages.

Here are the most common attitudes and beliefs with which to start this process, by the stages:

• Stage One―“I must be taken care of”… “I am inadequate”… “I am a victim with no way out”… “I am incapable of change or taking the initiative to better my life.”
• Stage Two―“I must have and do whatever I want, regardless of the effect I (or my actions) have on others (or even the long term consequences I cause to myself)”… “I don’t want to change”… “I will be whatever I have to be to get whatever I want at any given moment.”
• Stage Three―“I must fit in by doing only what I should do and by being what I should be—that which is expected of me—or some dire consequence will result.”
• Stage Four―“I must be loved or approved of by others and meet their expectations”… ”Failing at something (e.g., a relationship, a job, an exam, or to meet a goal) makes me a failure (to myself, in the eyes of others or both).”
• Stage Five―“I must keep it all together and step up to the plate with respect to all of my roles (e.g., spouse, breadwinner, etc.), regardless of whether or not they provide me feelings of satisfaction or gratification.”
• Stage Six―“I must not only have passion, but also must feel personally gratified around everything I do” … “Changing the world that is larger than me―or helping someone else―is not my mission, problem, or concern.”
• Stage Seven―“There are larger, grander, bolder, and more challenging missions to undertake.” (This is a disruption only to the degree that it undermines a mission you are committed to and not pursuing.)

Use these as a starting point to work on recognizing what’s holding you back. On next Tuesday’s blog, I’ll post some of the best attitudes for removing a problematic hook and climbing to your target stage.