What happens when you hear the words, "Smile for the camera?" Do you hold you head up high, slap on a big grin and pose like you mean it? Or do you think to yourself, "Oh gosh, I look terrible." Is your automatic response to raise your hands in front of your face and say "Not now, go away." Do you suck in your gut? Or quickly position yourself behind another person, a child or a tree?

Everything you say, do, feel or think is based on your belief systems. And a belief is simply a statement held by the mind as truth. It is a thought that we think over and over again until it become a belief, our truth, and our reality. When encountered by the "snap" happy, your thoughts, behaviors and internal dialogue, may be indicators of how you feel about yourself and what you believe about yourself to be true.

For instance, if you believe you are smart and beautiful with lots of self esteem and confidence, you're likely to love getting your picture taken; regardless of the circumstance and how prepared you are for a photo opportunity.

If you think you are unattractive and less then perfect, or hold general negative feelings about yourself and your abilities, the sight of a person wielding a camera might bring you great discomfort. Your sense of insecurity might surface and may even cause you to run in the other direction.

Reflect for a moment on the last time you had your picture taken. What were your thoughts, feelings and behaviors? Does anything you remember about that situation surprise you?

Now take what you've discovered and look at those beliefs, reactions and feelings. Are they positive and life-enhancing; great tools in helping you to achieve what you want in life? Or are your beliefs about yourself limiting and negative, hindering you from having the life that you always dreamed of? The beliefs you hold about your self will either move you forward in life, helping you to achieve your goals and desires or hold you back from having it all.

But there is hope. If you have a sense that you are holding a limiting belief about yourself, you can change it. Just gaining some awareness of your beliefs is a good start. Some people can change their beliefs by using affirmations or reading inspirational books. Others need a deeper transformative solution, like belief therapy.

The beliefs you hold about yourself, your abilities and talents are important as you move forward in life achieving your wants and desires. Imagine feeling so good about yourself that the next time you hear the words "Smile for the camera," it takes no effort to splash on a big grin and pose like you mean it. What a difference a belief makes.

Esther Bartkiw is a Certified Associate Practitioner of Core Belief Engineering, a transformative, results oriented belief therapy. Visit her website at www.changefromwithin.ca or call her at 905-630-4471. Printed in the June 2006 edition of Snap, Burlington, Ontario.