Limiting Beliefs and How to Eliminate Them
No one thinks they have limiting beliefs. But what if we do? And does it matter?
Chances are that you have a set of big lofty goals that have been lingering in your mind for a very long time. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to write a book? Or start a new career? Or travel the world?
Despite your passions or current life path, it’s also likely that these big dreams have always seemed out of reach.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone! Everyone has those large and somewhat vague ambitions that seem life-changing and enticing, but unobtainable. And if these big goals continue to linger without action, then over time they turn from ambitions to regrets.
So are these big goals obtainable? Of course they are! You have the power to transform and realign your life in virtually any way you choose, once you make the choice to get started.
So what’s slowing you down? If you’re like most folks who have large ambitions but not a lot of follow-through, then it likely boils down to limiting beliefs.
Limiting beliefs are inherent beliefs that may have us think we’re simply unable to do something, or don’t have the right qualification.
These beliefs often stem from childhood and subsequent experiences throughout life, and they’re hard to alter once formed. In fact, limiting beliefs often become stronger with time. That’s simply because we tend to find more perceived evidence that our inability to do something is true.
For example, let’s say you’ve always had a vague dream to write a book, but simply didn’t think you have the ability.
This could be because you may have gotten poor grades in school, then tried to write a book a couple of times – but didn’t get far – and then later found that life was too busy to even attempt to start writing again.
As these limiting beliefs are reinforced (usually by our own actions!), they become “facts” in our mind. And these “facts” become real barriers that stop us being able to accomplish those lofty goals.
But limiting beliefs are NOT facts – they’re simply mental barriers that you can overcome on your way to accomplishing your ambitions.
Think about some of the biggest things you want to accomplish in life. Consider why you haven’t taken concrete steps towards these dreams.
It’s likely that when you think about the obstacles that are preventing you from moving forward, some of them are self-imposed.
Any of the above may sound familiar to us. But believe it or not, they’re all untrue.
One of the biggest habits of super successful people is that they’re able to ignore or overcome these limiting beliefs, and concentrate on the work ahead instead. By focusing on the work, they reach their goals!
But ignoring and disregarding limiting beliefs is certainly easier said than done.
So if you find yourself stumbling on the road to success, and have noticed that your own limiting beliefs are a huge factor in being unable to move towards your big life goals, then consider the tips below. They’ll help you eliminate these limiting beliefs, and provide a clear path forward to a brighter future.
Personal limiting beliefs are the inherent character or personality traits that you believe you have, and which are stopping you from moving forward. These include things like your intelligence, talents, and skill sets. Overcoming these limiting beliefs boils down to increasing your confidence, and faith in yourself.
Check the evidence for your belief
A good way to get started on conquering these personal limiting beliefs is to find evidence that they are, in fact, incorrect.
For example, let’s say you want to lose weight, but are unable to do so because you don’t have the willpower. Well, if you think about it, you likely have plenty of real-life examples where your willpower was on full display!
Maybe your willpower shone when you were studying for a test instead of hanging out with friends. Or when you stayed late at the office. Or when you spring cleaned your house instead of enjoying a sunny weekend.
Make a list of the evidence you’ve found
Make a list of these damaging and personally limiting beliefs – and then a subsequent list of all of the reasons why they’re incorrect. When you challenge these inherent, negative beliefs about yourself and your capabilities, chances are that you’ll find more experiences and examples than you’re able to write down that show why they’re untrue.
The third thing to write down is some positive statements about yourself and what you want in life. Doing this helps you shift your negative beliefs and start achieving your goals.
You can’t solve all of your problems at once, but you can certainly tackle the ones that are causing the biggest roadblocks to your success.
So, identify the limiting beliefs that are stopping you moving forward – whether it’s lack of time, lack of money, or even lack of confidence – and start with these obstacles first.
Make a plan
Come up with a concrete plan on how to address these big hurdles, and why they shouldn’t stop you from accomplishing your goals.
For example, if your biggest hurdle to writing a book is lack of time, carve out 10 minutes a day to start writing. If your hurdle to starting a new business venture is lack of funds, start a small side business while working, or look around for financial resources. Prioritizing your obstacles, and finding definitive ways to overcome them, goes a long way to reaching your goals.
If you have big dreams but no clear route on how to achieve them, then it’s time for a little extra assistance! Look for training options or seminars that can boost your confidence to achieve your ambitions. Successful people never go it alone, and when it comes to limiting beliefs, an outside perspective and encouragement can go a long way to making those dreams reality.
You can also listen to my CD, The Power of Belief, which gives tips on how to overcome the negative beliefs that keep us from achieving our goals. If you don’t have a CD player, I speak about this topic on YouTube, too. Don’t let anything at all stop you from moving towards your goal now you’ve started eliminating your limiting beliefs!