In this blog, you will discover how to overcome self-limiting beliefs—disempowering thoughts so deeply ingrained into your subconscious mind that you may not even realize you have them. Getting rid of limiting beliefs is a necessary step to unlocking your true potential and creating the life you desire. It empowers you to embrace new opportunities, grow, and achieve your most ambitious dreams.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
What Are Self-Limiting Beliefs? (And Why You Should Care)
A self-limiting belief is a belief that you can hold about yourself, others, or the world that can limit your potential and prevent you from pursuing your passions, taking risks, and achieving success. You could have acquired them from a variety of sources such as past experiences, societal norms, and cultural expectations. They can take many forms, but they all have one thing in common: they hold you back from reaching your full potential.
Some common examples of self-limiting beliefs include:
- “I’m not smart enough to succeed in my chosen field”
- “I’m not attractive enough to find a partner”
- “I don’t have enough experience to pursue my dream career”
- “I’m too old to learn something new”
- “I’m not outgoing enough to make friends”
These beliefs can be incredibly damaging to your self-esteem and can prevent you from taking risks or pursuing your goals. They can create a negative cycle where you don’t try new things because you don’t believe you can succeed, which in turn reinforces the belief that you are not capable.
Self-limiting beliefs can be especially hindering because they often operate on a subconscious level, which means you may not even realize you hold these beliefs, but they can still impact your behavior and decisions. For example, if you believe you’re not good enough to pursue a certain career, you may not even apply for jobs in that field, or you may not put as much effort into your applications as you would if you believed in yourself.
How Do Self-Limiting Beliefs Work?
Self-limiting beliefs work by creating a negative cycle of thought and behavior that reinforces your limitations and keeps you stuck in a state of low self-esteem and self-doubt.
The cycle of self-limiting beliefs typically starts with an event or experience that causes you to develop a negative belief about yourself. For example, if you fail at something, you may start to believe that you’re not capable or that you’re not good enough. Over time, this negative belief becomes deeply ingrained in your subconscious mind, and you start to see evidence of it everywhere you look.
The problem with these beliefs is that they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Once you believe that you’re not capable or that you’re not good enough, you start to act in ways that reinforce those beliefs. If you believe that you’re not capable, you may avoid trying new things or taking risks. If you believe that you’re not good enough, you may hold yourself back from pursuing your dreams or putting yourself out there.
The more you act in ways that reinforce your limiting beliefs, the more convinced you become that they’re true. You start to see the world through the lens of your limitations, and you miss out on opportunities that could help you grow and develop.
How to Identify Self-Limiting Beliefs
The first step to overcoming disempowering beliefs is to recognize and acknowledge them. Identifying self-limiting beliefs can be challenging, but with time and effort, you can break free from your limitations and achieve the success and fulfillment you desire.
Here are a few ways to help you identify if you hold any self-limiting beliefs:
1. Notice negative self-talk
One of the most obvious signs of limiting beliefs is negative self-talk.
Pay attention to the things you say to yourself throughout the day, especially when faced with challenges or obstacles. If you find yourself saying things like “I can’t do this,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I always fail,” you may be dealing with self-limiting beliefs.
2. Identify patterns of behavior
Self-limiting beliefs often manifest in our behavior. For example, if you avoid taking risks or trying new things, you may have a belief that you’re not capable or that you’ll fail. If you struggle with setting and achieving goals, you may have a belief that you’re not worthy of success.
Take a step back and examine your behavior patterns to see if any beliefs are driving them.
3. Look for evidence
Self-limiting beliefs often stem from negative experiences or feedback. However, our interpretation of those experiences can be flawed.
Look for evidence that contradicts your self-limiting beliefs. For example, if you believe that you’re not capable of public speaking, look for times when you successfully spoke in front of others. You are your own worst critic; so it’s time to claim your power back and become your own best advocate.
4. Ask for feedback
Sometimes, limiting beliefs can be difficult to identify on one’s own.
Ask for feedback from trusted friends, family members, or colleagues. Ask them what they see as your strengths and areas for improvement. This can help you identify any blind spots in your thinking. But remember, don’t take advice from someone that you wouldn’t have asked for advice from in the first place. Be selective and make sure you approach someone who has your best interest at heart.
5. Consider your childhood experiences
Many of our self-limiting beliefs stem from childhood experiences or conditioning. Consider your upbringing and any messages you received about your abilities, worth, or potential. These messages may have shaped your beliefs about yourself.
Once you’ve identified your self-limiting beliefs, you can work on challenging and reframing them in a more positive and empowering way. Remember, self-limiting beliefs are not facts, and you have the power to change them. With time and effort, you can break free from your limitations and achieve the success and fulfillment you desire.
Examples of Self-Limiting Beliefs (And Their Consequences)
Below, I will address some of the most common self-limiting beliefs I’ve heard from students who’ve taken my Mind Power program and show you the consequences of thinking in such ways:
“I’m not good enough”
This is perhaps one of the most common limiting beliefs. It can manifest in many different areas of your life, from your work to your relationships. When you believe that you’re not good enough, you’re more likely to shy away from challenges and opportunities, and you may not put yourself out there as much as you should.
“I’m too old (or too young)”
Age can be a self-limiting belief, especially in industries that value youth or experience. If you believe that you’re too old or too young to succeed, you may not pursue opportunities or take risks that could lead to growth and development.
Take Grandma Moses as an example.
Born in the 1860s, Grandma Moses started painting when she was only 78 years old. At 88 years old, she received the “Young Woman of the Year” award for her outstanding career and charisma. She continued to live on until 1961 and peacefully passed away at 101 years old.
Age is just a number, it’s all about how you feel on the inside. If you keep on moving forward and challenge yourself in new ways, you will always maintain a youthful heart.
“I’m not smart enough”
Intelligence is another disempowering belief that can hold us back. When we believe that we’re not smart enough, we may not pursue education or career paths that challenge us or require new skills.
It’s also worth noting that many societies have now transitioned to taking educational credentials as reliable sources of intelligence over intelligence learned from everyday experiences. However, there is so much wisdom in learned everyday experiences. I think most people would agree that they would rather have a firefighter who has real-life experience save them from a burning house rather than one who only has theoretical training.
Recognize the power of your everyday knowledge; you’re smarter and wiser than you think.
“I don’t deserve success”
This self-limiting belief is often rooted in feelings of low self-worth or imposter syndrome. When we believe that we don’t deserve success, we may self-sabotage or hold ourselves back from pursuing our dreams.
Try reframing the “I don’t” into “I do”. And every time you think about how you don’t deserve success, combat that negative thought with the affirmation “I do deserve success”. Repeat it 10-15 times in a row so it begins to imprint into your subconscious mind.
“I’m too busy”
While it’s important to prioritize self-care and rest, the belief that you’re always too busy can be a self-limiting belief. When you believe that you’re too busy, you may not make time for activities or pursuits that bring you joy or help you grow. It also creates a scarcity mindset where you are subconsciously attracting to you vibrational frequencies of scarcity.
“I can’t change”
This self-limiting belief can be particularly deceptive because it reinforces a sense of powerlessness. When you believe that you can’t change, you may not pursue personal growth or take steps to improve your life.
There you have it. These are some of the most common self-limiting beliefs that I’ve encountered when teaching my training to students.
If you need help addressing your self-limiting beliefs, I will help you uncover and overcome them using the same Mind Power techniques I’ve taught for 45 years to over 3 million students. Explore the Mind Power programs.
How to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs
Once you’re aware of your self-limiting beliefs, you can begin to challenge and reframe them in a more positive and empowering way.
1. Challenge your beliefs
The first step to overcoming self-limiting beliefs is to challenge them. Ask yourself if your beliefs are based on facts or assumptions. Look for evidence that contradicts your beliefs. For example, if you believe that you’re not good enough to pursue a certain career, look for people who have succeeded in that field despite similar challenges.
2. Reframe your thinking
Reframing your thinking involves looking at your beliefs in a more positive and empowering way. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do. Instead of thinking “I’m not good enough,” think “I’m capable of learning and growing.”
Changing your thinking can help you see opportunities instead of obstacles.
3. Take action
Taking action is key to overcoming self-limiting beliefs. Start small and work your way up. For example, if you’re afraid of public speaking, start by speaking in front of a small group of friends or colleagues. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.
Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, to build momentum.
4. Surround yourself with positivity
Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Avoid people who bring you down or reinforce your self-limiting beliefs. Seek out positive and uplifting content, such as books, podcasts, or social media accounts. This can help you stay motivated and inspired.
5. Invest in a Training Program
If your self-limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained or you’re having trouble distinguishing what self-limiting beliefs you hold, I invite you to try the first lesson of my training for free. In my 6-week training, I teach you how to identify self-limiting beliefs, how to imprint new beliefs into your subconscious, and how to create a habit of your new thinking process.
Conclusion
Overcoming self-limiting beliefs takes time and effort, but it’s possible. It’s a very worthwhile effort that will serve you for the rest of your life.
Remember, your beliefs do not define you, and you have the power to change them. By challenging your beliefs, reframing your thinking, taking action, surrounding yourself with positivity, and investing in yourself, you can break free from your limitations and achieve the success and fulfillment you desire.
