Analyzing Your Own Beliefs to Overcome Limitations

Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts or beliefs about ourselves that ultimately hold us back from our full potential - big or small.

Sometimes so deeply rooted that we don’t even recognize them as limitations, perceiving them instead as facts about ourselves or our environment.

Our own life experiences, education, and personal encounters shapes what we believe. Family, education, experiences all contribute to our beliefs.

We receive what we believe, so it’s crucial to make sure our beliefs are based in limitlessness, not fear or negativity. And the truth is, we all have limiting beliefs, whether or not we recognize them.

Once we start to hear these beliefs in ourselves, we can access the sensation of them in our minds and bodies, which empowers us to let go of them and uncover even greater ones.

Limiting Belief Example

Statement: The corporate world is where I will make the most money.

First layer - I can’t make enough money outside of the corporate world.

One layer deeper - The money I need comes only from a corporate job.

Deeper - I don't have any ideas to make money with.

Deeper - I can't make money outside of a 9-5 job.

Deeper - I don't have time to do anything but go to my job so I can't start anything new.

Deeper - I have nothing valuable to offer.

Deeper - I am too expensive for myself.

Deeper - I am not like those people who make money outside of a traditional job.

Deeper - I will never succeed outside of my 9-5 job.

Deeper - I don't have real value.

Deeper - I am worthless.

"I don't have limiting beliefs. They are all true."

First, they often do feel true. But more realistically, they just feel very real. They are not objectively true. Beliefs are subjective perceptions, rather than facts.

Since limiting beliefs often develop in our childhood or through our own experiences, acknowledging the past experiences or circumstances that led to you believe this can help you release. Recognizing "then" is not "now" allows for change. Otherwise, these beliefs can worsen over time, becoming self-fulfilling prophecies or never being tested.

Many people deny their limiting beliefs because of the discomfort they bring. Accepting them requires facing fears, insecurities and past failures while also accepting the power to try again. It's much easier to stay in our comfort zones, even if it means living with limitations. However, we all have the capacity to expand our current limits.

Context is king - something that was true at one point doesn't mean it will always be true. Some are also only partial truths. For example, the corporate world might offer the most earning potential right now, but with the right approach, lessons, and resources, that could change.

Ultimately, limiting beliefs are rarely the whole truth. By recognizing them, we can see where we can grow, freeing ourselves from the constraints our own beliefs hold.

Limiting beliefs extend beyond ourselves as well. They can be about other people, roles in life, jobs, experiences, society and more.

Believing in “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” can also be limiting, rather than correct. These beliefs seep into our morals and values. The intention behind these behavioral guidelines is to promote goodness, but their ultimate purpose is to reduce the discomfort of others.

Naturally, we humans avoid discomfort. Sometimes people use morals and values just for that purpose and leaving them outdated or irrelevant to the current individual. Using unhelpful beliefs can lead individuals to suppress themselves because of guilt or fear of judgment from others.

To become limitless, we need to reassess our beliefs regularly and avoid accepting “that’s just the way it is” as an answer.

So what are the practical steps to overcome limiting beliefs?

Please note, this process is repetitive because limiting beliefs are everywhere in our mind and experiences.

1. Notice the discomfort of viewing your own beliefs as just perspectives and thoughts. Take it on. By the end, you will find it's not as terrible as it seems

2. Acknowledge the belief. What is true about yourself, others in your life, or experiences like working, having money, living where you live? Instead of looking for just limiting beliefs, record all your beliefs in general. Those are your beliefs.

3. Challenge the beliefs. What makes your belief true? Where did it come from? What if it's wrong? What other beliefs could someone have about the same thing? Why? If you had more gratitude, what would you believe? What other beliefs could you hold?

4. Detail the opposite belief of yours. For every belief you have, write the opposite. How does it feel to pretend you believe that?

5. Replace it. After seeing all the possibilities, think of your goals. Which belief would have to be true or be the best one for you to believe? Develop a new belief or multiple.

6. Test your new beliefs. Try the new approach and perspective. Take it slowly as you start to grow in your new belief, but know the difference between old and new.

7. Self Compassion. Recognize how long it took you to believe what you believe. Understand that change does not happen overnight. Be compassionate with yourself, and most importantly, enjoy the freedom that comes from believing in something new.

This is the beginning of releasing the mental chains that hold us back. Learning to spot them within ourselves and then taking the steps to overcome them is the key to unlocking our full potential.

Remember, everyone has limiting beliefs - it’s how we deal with them they makes the difference.