Have you ever thought to yourself, I am not good/smart/strong/rich/etc. enough? If so, you are not alone. These beliefs often come from a place of negativity and fear that keeps us from experiencing new opportunities.
There are many limiting and toxic beliefs we hold that keep us from living the happy, joyful, and meaningful lives we deserve. By giving them up and letting go of the extra baggage weighing us down, we allow ourselves to be happy. We give ourselves permission to experience the many wonderful things life has to offer.
What are limiting beliefs?
A limiting belief is a state of mind or belief about yourself that restricts you in some way. These beliefs are often false (toxic) accusations you make about yourself that can cause several negative results.
For example, if your limiting belief is that you are bad at public speaking, you will likely decline any opportunity to share your knowledge with others in a group setting. Or, if you must speak in front of people, you may think you will be more likely to mess things up. This is because you have preconceived notions about your ability to speak that limit your potential.
Limiting beliefs can also keep you in a negative state of mind, hindering you from encountering new opportunities and life experiences while wreaking havoc on your mental health. Therefore it is important to not only work on your self-awareness and self-esteem, but also recognize unconscious biases. Holding on to biases about others hinders your ability to move and grow in the world.
10 Common examples of limiting beliefs
I want to share 10 toxic and limiting beliefs you should give up for greater happiness. The list comes from my client sessions and material conversations – meaning these limiting beliefs have been the most recurring and prominent.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
- I am not good enough
- I am too old/young
- I do not have enough time
- I do not know enough (have enough experience)
- I do not have enough money
- I lost my purpose in life
- I cannot allow myself to feel vulnerable
- I cannot be happy until I get there
- I am this way because of (parents/community/siblings/etc.)
- I am all alone/I cannot trust anyone
These types of beliefs come from a place of fear, and everyone has them. The goal is to learn how to identify and dispel limiting beliefs so they do not prevent you from getting out of your comfort zone. The trick is to recognize your own limiting beliefs when they come up and use that recognition to reframe how you think about yourself.
What causes limiting beliefs?
Limiting beliefs are caused by a few factors, but they all stem from the same place: your desire to protect yourself from pain in the future. These triggers can include fear, imposter syndrome, and past experiences.
Often, limiting beliefs start from a young age and progressively evolve and reshape throughout your life as you encounter new experiences. Whether you have had a painful experience that caused you to fear similar encounters or fear what is to come, limiting beliefs can prevent positive new beliefs from forming.
Knowing the causes of your limiting beliefs is a great way to understand the thought process behind them and begin to manage them. There are a number of additional techniques you can implement to overcome your fears.
How to overcome limiting beliefs?
Being able to identify self-limiting beliefs can help you correct them in the moment but learning how to overcome them takes time and practice. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Identify and write your beliefs down. The first step to overcome your limiting beliefs is to first identify them. Oftentimes, these beliefs present themselves as a thought in your head, rather than something you say out loud. Getting these thoughts out on paper can help you separate fact from fiction and allow you to see how untrue they are.
- Assess the accuracy. If writing down your thoughts is not enough, it can be helpful to figure out whether your beliefs have merit and evidence. The next time a negative belief presents itself, take a moment to pause and analyze the thought. Evaluate whether it is self-limiting and if there is any concrete evidence to back up your belief. Ask yourself if the thought is coming from fear of the unknown or from an experience.
- Use positive affirmations. Affirmations are sentences that you repeat to yourself to build self-belief. Combat negative thoughts by reframing them into positive beliefs. This can be done in many forms but saying these aloud to yourself can help reinforce the belief. You can use this technique when negative feelings come up or implement it into your daily routine to prevent self-limiting beliefs in the first place.
- Never give up. Never give up when limiting beliefs arise. Remember, you are not alone. Everyone experiences limiting beliefs. The important thing is to persevere through the limiting belief and not let it hinder you. It can be easy to feel down when going through a cycle of negativity, push limiting thoughts away by taking a moment to yourself. Sometimes, all you need is a breath of fresh air to set yourself on a more positive path.
Whether you use one or a combination of the four is up to you, but each of these techniques can help you overcome limiting beliefs. Remember, everyone experiences self-limiting beliefs. The important thing is not to completely eliminate limiting beliefs, but to learn to overcome them and focus on the positive. When you change your perspective, you change your life.
If you would like help getting started on overcoming your limiting beliefs, consider scheduling a Discovery Call with me.