Have you ever felt like your past experiences are holding you back from achieving your goals? Do you feel like you're stuck in a cycle of negative thought patterns and self-doubt? It's easy to blame our past for our problems, but the truth is that our past shapes our beliefs. And sometimes, these beliefs can become limiting beliefs that hold us back from living our best lives.
What is a Limiting Belief?
A limiting belief is a state of mind or belief about yourself that restricts you in some way. It can be something as simple as "I'm not good enough" or "I'm not smart enough." But these beliefs can be powerful, and they can hold you back from achieving your full potential. The good news is that you have the power to overcome these limiting beliefs using your own energy and mind.
Where Did These Limiting Beliefs Even Come From?
Where do our original beliefs come from? Our beliefs are shaped by our experiences, our culture, our family, and the society we live in. As children, we absorb everything around us and form our own ideas about how the world works. These beliefs are then reinforced by our experiences and the people around us.
However, as we grow older, we may realize that some of our beliefs are holding us back. They may be outdated versions of society, culture, or family beliefs that are not meant to shine who we are as individuals, but to conform to another person's principles and the institutions that they were taught. This is where reviewing our beliefs becomes important.
5 Steps to Prevent Your Beliefs From Limiting Yourself
To create the life you want, you need to review your beliefs and make sure that they align with the person you are today. Kain Ramsey, a Teacher of Modern Applied Psychology & Personal Development, said that "The past isn't the root of your problems, the past is the root of your beliefs." By learning how to identify these beliefs and challenging them, you can proactively prevent them from limiting you.
Here are some tips on how to do this:
Identify your limiting beliefs. Take a moment to reflect on the thoughts that hold you back. What are the fundamental beliefs that you hold about your different areas of your life like your character, physical fitness, emotional health or career, for example? Where did you get these beliefs from? Are they something that lift you up or hold you down? Write them down (this part is important) and ask yourself where they came from. This step can help you recognize what is something that you believe or what was offered to you at a point in your life when you were not sure or did not know what you believed.
Challenge your limiting beliefs. Once you've identified your limiting beliefs, ask yourself if they're really true. Are they based on facts or assumptions? What evidence do you have to support these beliefs? Are these beliefs supporting me or limiting what I think I am capable of achieving?
Reframe your beliefs. If you find that your limiting beliefs are not true or not helpful, reframe them into something positive and empowering. For example, instead of "I'm not good enough," try "I'm capable of achieving my goals."
Practice positive self-talk. Make a habit of using positive self-talk to reinforce your new beliefs. Repeat affirmations to yourself regularly and focus on your strengths and accomplishments. Post these affirmations on your mirrors, windows, fridge or door. Repeat them out loud when you see them and they will stay with you until you need to remind yourself about who you really are and what you really stand for.
Create a list of Intentions and think big!! Think about or plan the future with imagination and insight from what you have uncovered from your own beliefs and values. Describe the ideal vision of your life in regards to your different areas of your life. You can even try to make an Intention Board, either 3D or virtually that can be inspirational sayings or photos of what you are capable of achieving with this new set of beliefs you have discovered.
Summary
Remember, your past doesn't have to define your future. You have the power to create the life you want, so don't let limiting beliefs hold you back. By reviewing your beliefs and challenging the ones that don't serve you, you can unlock your full potential and achieve your goals. There is no time like the present and you could find out some pretty freeing information that can open you up to solutions for becoming the person you have always wanted to be. I believe in you. You got this!!