top of page
Writer's pictureHeather Prince

4 meaningful ways to explore your self-limiting beliefs

Remember to be a keen observer of your thoughts.


When you find yourself saying things likeI’m not good enough


…practice noticing that thought right away and instead affirm


 “That’s not right. I am good enough. In fact, I’m great.


The key to breaking any habit (and clinging to negative beliefs is a habit) is to replace it with a strong, positive new habit. Your new habit is affirming the opposite of what you used to believe.


When you get your thoughts on a positive vibe, your life changes for the better.


I am enough - affirmation

 

Here is a list of 63 Self-Limiting Beliefs that Block Happiness and Success


Perhaps as you read through this list, you’ll recognise yourself in some of these:

  1. I am too old.

  2. I am too young.

  3. I am too poor … I lack money and resources.

  4. I am too fat or too skinny … too tall or too short.

  5. I am not smart enough.

  6. I am not popular enough.

  7. I am not connected enough.

  8. Others are in my way.

  9. I can’t start … I’m not ready.

  10. Rich people hold all the good cards.

  11. Money is the root of all evil.

  12. I am a mess, it’s hopeless.

  13. I don’t have enough time.

  14. I am too far gone to start taking care of my body now.

  15. There’s an earnings ceiling that I’ll never go above.

  16. I don’t have enough energy.

  17. I expect others to hurt me.

  18. Financial security is a pipe dream.

  19. One day I’ll change.

  20. Exercise isn’t that important.

  21. Getting my hopes up always leads to disappointment.

  22. My health is holding me back.

  23. I’ll never be happy.

  24. My plate is too full already.

  25. Change is too hard.

  26. My family will abandon me if I change.

  27. People won’t like the real me.

  28. Not trying is better than failure.

  29. Nice, faithful men (or women) are impossible to find.

  30. I’ll never be successful.

  31. Eating healthy isn’t that important.

  32. Letting others get close just leads to pain.

  33. Life is hard … that’s just the way it is.

  34. I just have bad luck.

  35. I don’t deserve nice things.

  36. There’s no point in dreaming big.

  37. Others’ approval is key to my feeling worthy.

  38. If I get too happy or too successful, I’ll jinx myself.

  39. Others’ needs are more important than mine.

  40. I’ll always be broke.

  41. I’ll always be fat.

  42. When someone else changes, I’ll be happy.

  43. I don’t deserve to have more than what I have.

  44. I don’t have the right education.

  45. Being honest leads to rejection.

  46. If I relax, all hell will break loose.

  47. Risking being criticised or judged is not worth the pain it could cause.

  48. I’m not important.

  49. I am not good with money.

  50. I can’t trust myself.

  51. I am inherently unlikable and unlovable.

  52. I am not self-disciplined.

  53. There’s no point in asking for what I want.

  54. No one will support or encourage me.

  55. I am powerless.

  56. I can’t change.

  57. I am not strong enough.

  58. Being vulnerable is far too dangerous.

  59. I wasn’t born into the right kind of family.

  60. I don’t have enough experience.

  61. I don’t deserve to be happy.

  62. My looks are an obstacle to getting what I want.

  63. Why try? I’ll just fail.


That’s a pretty big list, so tell me, did you recognise yourself in any of these?


Are there other limiting beliefs not mentioned here that you noticed popping up in your self-talk?


The key is to observe the thoughts that reveal your beliefs

Thoughts create your reality

If the beliefs are pulling you down instead of raising your vibes, resist the urge to go back on auto-pilot.  Instead, take a closer look at your self-sabotaging beliefs by asking yourself:

  1. Do I still believe this to be true? If so, why?

As you ponder on this question, you may find something in your past that offers clarity. For example, maybe you grew up in a home where your parents always worried about the lack of money, so you believed “there is never enough.” As an adult, you now earn a good living, but you still believe money is always in short supply, so you might hold on to it in fear of not having enough.  Now that you see this, you can exchange the “there is never enough” belief for a more appropriate belief for who you are today: “I make a good living and there is more than enough for all of my needs”  Remember: everyone acts from what they believe to be true. If you think money is always lacking, that is what you’ll create for yourself in your life.

2. Can I find any instances where what I believe is not always true? 

For example, if you believe “you have to start out rich to get ahead,” can you think of exceptions to your belief?   Here’s a short list of people who became huge successes, even though they started with very modest means:   Alan Sugar, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Ralph Lauren, Celine Dion and  J. K. Rowling

3. Am I willing to at least start affirming an opposite belief? 

For example, instead of continuing to affirm “I am powerless,” start affirming “I am strong and powerful!” Repeat it over time and you will begin to feel a shift in your beliefs.  I know this step was important for me in helping me let go with some of my more deeply entrenched negative beliefs.

4. Could this belief come from a past event that I miss-assigned meaning to? 

Example: the only time your parents ever gave you positive attention as a child was when you did something good in school. So you came to believe that to get recognition and love, you needed to excel at school … which later translated into getting promotions at work. So today you’re an adult trying to earn attention and affection by measuring yourself on what you achieve!  The meaning you attached to the behaviour made sense when you were a child, but it doesn’t now that you’re an adult.


Limiting beliefs can be about Anger, Hurt and Fear

To sum up, the good news is that once you identify a limiting belief, you can release it and even exchange it for a more self-expanding belief that will serve you better. It’s a freeing feeling that will make an amazing difference in nearly every aspect of your life.


So, what beliefs are you going to finally let go of? 

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page