Limiting beliefs are deeply engrained assumptions or perceptions that constrain your potential. They often stem from past experiences, societal conditioning or self-doubt and act as mental barriers preventing you from pursuing your goals or dreams. Do you ever hear yourself saying, ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I can’t change’ or ‘I don’t deserve success’? These are all limiting beliefs.
Mastering your limiting beliefs involves several key steps. First, you have to identify them by paying close attention to any negative self-talk or recurring patterns of self-sabotage. Self-reflection and journaling can be powerful tools for this step in the process. Once identified, it’s then crucial to challenge these beliefs by questioning their validity and seeking evidence to the contrary. Listing past successes and strengths can help counteract the notion of inadequacy.
Another effective strategy is to reframe these beliefs into positive affirmations. Instead of thinking, saying or believing, ‘I can’t do this’, you might say, ‘I am capable of learning and growing’. Visualisation techniques, surrounding yourself with supportive people can also help reinforce this new mindset.
Consistency and persistency are key to overcoming limiting beliefs as this is not a one-time event but a continuous process of self-improvement and positive reinforcement. By actively working to dismantle these mental barriers, you can unlock your true potential to achieve greater personal and professional fulfilment.
Back in January 2022, I embarked on a creative writing session with a writing coach where I visualised my maternal grandfather, George, sharing captivating wartime stories with me by the fireside – a cherished childhood memory. The concept was that these stories would contain hidden life lessons that would help the reader navigate their future with purposeful intention. With this inspired vision, I began writing what I referred to as ‘The Book’.
However, grappling with writer’s block two months later, I enlisted the help of another coach to help me believe in myself and my writing ability and to overcome the limiting belief. I felt I lacked the ability to do justice to our story and meet George’s exacting standards as a professional playwright and novelist, despite him no longer being alive to judge me.
In that coaching session, I surfaced the specific limiting belief that ‘I didn’t think I was good enough to write a book on the subject of purpose’. Encouraged in the session to create a new belief, I chose instead to believe that ‘I am a powerful writer who has the ability to change people’s lives with my words’. As I spoke those words out loud, I realised I’d already been helping people change their lives for years, creating positive, global ripple effects through my coaching, podcasting and blog writing.
I’d revered George for his endless creativity, writing plays for stage, TV and radio, as well as novels and short stories, but I’d totally dismissed and not acknowledged all the work I’d been creating, because it was in different formats addressing different audiences. The block that prevented me from being creative magically disappeared. With renewed confidence, I resumed writing. Later this year on 24 October, ‘The Book’, now called Focus on Why: Create a purposeful way of life, will be released.
So, if you’re thinking ‘I can’t do…’ or ‘I’m not able to…’, then now’s the time to act. Rid that limiting belief and instead create a powerful empowering belief. Believe in yourself.
Focus on Limiting Beliefs! Focus on WHY!
ACTION POINT - What limiting belief is preventing you from living out your goals and dreams?
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