Imagine you work in an office with ten other people. In the foyer, which you
pass through each day, there is a 12 x 12-foot area rug. The receptionist
warned you the first time you came in the office about a big hole in the
floor under the rug and to stay clear of it. It was dangerous. You've now
been working for this company for two years. The rug and hole have become a
natural fixture to the office. The people who work there just know to give
that area of the building a wide girth. Walking in from lunch, you and your
co-worker don't miss a beat in your conversation as you walk around the rug.
You don't even think about it much anymore.

You've had discussions with other co-workers about why the owner doesn't fix
the hole, or at least put up a barrier with signs until it's fixed. There
have been theories proposed like the owner doesn't care because he doesn't
come in the office, that the business isn't doing well and he can't afford
to fix it. Not impeding your work, you accept the hole as a "necessary evil"
for working for the company.

Then one day, a new employee gets curious and pulls back the carpeting. He
wants to see the hole. To his surprise, there is no hole!! He calls to
everyone to come and see. As you all stand around looking at where the hole
was supposed to be, you try and figure out why you all believed the hole was
there in the first place. Who started this hole (whole?) mythology?!?

As it turns out, the owner had the hole fixed the weekend following the
damage, but didn't inform the employees. "Just like management," one
employee says, "they don't tell us anything." You each take a turn
tentatively stepping on the floor where there was supposed to be a hole. You
laugh as each person tests the area by jumping and dancing on "the hole."
It's as solid as a rock. You're surprised and amazed.

After some discussion, you eventually make your way back to work. The next
day when you enter the office, you walk around the rug. You chuckle to
yourself thinking "old habits," then turn and walk over the rug to your
office. With each passing day, you forget all about the hole and think
nothing of where you walk.

Was it difficult to walk on the rug once you saw there was no hole? Did you
need to go through years of therapy in order to do so? Did you need to
analyze your childhood? Heal any wounds? Release your anger? No, you just
walked on it. No big deal. Your actions and experience naturally changed
once you knew there was no hole there.

This is how it works with beliefs. Changing what you believe changes your
behaviors and feelings. You no longer make a circle around the rug. You no
longer warn new people. You no longer look at the rug and think, "Why
doesn't someone do something about that." All because your belief about the
hole has changed. It can be that easy.

Allie Alberigo is a 6th Degree Black Belt in the art of Ninpo/Ninjutsu and Jujutsu and has been training in the martial arts for over 39 years, as well as being a martial arts school owner, self-defense expert, public speaker and business owner. Allie is the owner of the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, which has locations in East Islip, West Islip, Port Jefferson, Lindenhurst, and Bermuda. In 2000 Allie his first book “The Beginners Guide to Ninpo” and has also released his first video “The Warrior Spirit” (39 minutes). If you have any questions do not hesitate to call 631-321-5432, email him at renshilininja@aol.com, or check them out online at Lininja.com. He loves to hear from you.