But if iron sharpens iron, we should be careful about the kind of edge others are giving us. Instead of random relationships, we can create communities that help everyone involved achieve their goals together—like Lewis and Tolkien.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,” he says in one place.6

Recognize your limiting belief. Upgrading your thinking starts with awareness, so take a minute to reflect on what beliefs are holding you back. Record the belief. In the left-hand column, jot down the belief. Writing it down helps you externalize it. Review the belief. Evaluate how the belief is serving you. Is it empowering? Is it helping you

Upgrade Your Beliefs Get a notebook or a pad of paper and draw a line down the middle of the page so you have two columns. Now use this six-step process to swap your limiting beliefs for liberating truths.

write down your limiting beliefs. Draw a line down a page. On one side place your limiting beliefs. On the other write corresponding liberating truths. Consider the side with your liberating truths your new personal manifesto for achieving your goals.

Sixth and finally, reorient yourself to the new belief. Start living from the perspective of this new, liberating truth. You might not fully buy into it. That’s fine. Try it on.

The new one gives you a foothold for real progress. Make sure you write down the revised belief.

The old “truth” holds you back.

I’m talking about reorienting your thinking around a new and liberating truth.