Limiting beliefs are debilitating thoughts that your mind has created about yourself, other people, or the world. They act as a defence mechanism to protect you from the fear of failure and other negative emotions. These beliefs hold you back from accomplishing your goals because you believe them on a subconscious level. More often than not these limiting beliefs are actually false but because our minds give them the power they become real to us.
Have I lost you now? Well, stick with me because it’s important we get to the bottom of these pesky thoughts.
The thing about limiting beliefs is that they are LIMITING. They take hold of your thought process and literally hold you back in life. More often than not, we don’t often realise they are there.
Limiting Beliefs Examples
Let’s take a look at a few examples of limiting beliefs to give you an idea of what to look out for.
- I’m not good enough.
- I can’t do that.
- They are better than me.
- No one will ever love me.
- I can’t wear an outfit like that.
- There’s no way I can go for that job promotion.
- If only I was prettier.
- It’s just not meant to be for me.
Etc, etc… you get the drift. Such negative thoughts stop you in your tracks and prevent you from embracing so many moments in your life. This goes back to what I said earlier, these limiting beliefs are your mind’s defence mechanism.
You are faced with a job prospect, a date, or any opportunity, but rather than going for it anyway, your mind puts on the breaks and protects you from any failure it fears you may experience. You can’t fail if you don’t try but the thing is, you can’t achieve if you don’t try either.
Perhaps we would have all taken different paths in our lives had we not given in to our limiting beliefs.
Click the link above to grab your copy of The Limiting Beliefs Workbook now.
Limiting Beliefs Restrict Your Opportunities
Just think about how many of these false negative thoughts have crept up on you over the years. I bet when you really think about that, the realisation of how those thoughts have limited your outlook is quite startling.
The fear of failure is a common limiting belief that leads people to avoid following their dreams because they don’t want to fail. Many people have the limiting belief that they’re unlikable. Others believe that they can’t succeed in the world because there are too many obstacles, or that they can’t hold down a relationship or a job. All of these are limiting beliefs. They aren’t true, but the unconscious mind believes them.
If every time an opportunity comes along in life and those limiting beliefs kick in, then that’s a lot of missed opportunities. I don’t know about you but that just makes me feel so sad.
-
I Am Affirmation Journal£6.50 -
The Ultimate Self-Care Workbook£14.99
How To Overcome Them
As with all personal development work, it takes some time and effort but it’s doable. If any of these points have resonated with you then it’s important to know that each and every one of us have limiting beliefs.
What’s important now is that you understand what they are and how they are holding you back.
The snag is that you can’t really work alongside them, you somehow need to override them. As I said, it takes time but you are worth that time. It’s part of your personal growth and ridding yourself of these thoughts will help you reach your goals.
I would recommend writing down what your limiting beliefs are. Explore your thoughts and look back on moments that you have held back in life for fear of failure. Once you have them down on paper you can work on them one by one, rethinking those thoughts in a more positive light.
Just think of all the new opportunities that will come your way once you start saying;
- Yes, I can try that.
- I will give that a go.
- That promotion is mine.
- I am worthy.
- New and exciting opportunities come my way easily.
- I am beautiful.
- That colour looks great on me.
- Perhaps I will join that dating site.
It takes practice, practice and some more practice every day forever! But you are worth it. Stay tuned for more posts on this topic in the near future.
I’d love to hear about your thoughts on limiting beliefs and how you work on yours in the comments below.
Have an amazing day.
