What is a limiting belief?

A limiting belief is a false belief that a person acquires as a result of making an incorrect conclusion about something in their life.

Want to quickly identify your limiting beliefs?

Here’s an easy exercise: When speaking, focus on what you say after the word “because”.

For example;

• “My business is struggling because of the economy.”

• “I can’t lose weight because of my metabolism.”

• “I can’t go back to school because I don’t have the money.”

You can only receive in your life what you allow in. If a limiting belief is blocking you from allowing something in, whatever goal you have… will take a while to come to you, if ever.

A limiting belief can also cause sabotaging behavior in your life.

  “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.” — Tony Robbins

What is the impact of a limiting belief?

Limiting beliefs will impact each individual differently, depending on what the limiting beliefs actually are. I’ve listed a generalized example of some of the impacts below.

• Hold you back from making different choices in life. 

• Keep you from seeing the different opportunities presented to you daily. 

• Prevent you from seeing your own gifts, or the gifts offered to you. 

• Can keep you stuck focusing on the negative aspects of your circumstances. 

The biggest challenge with limiting beliefs is that most of us don’t think we have them. And they’re hard to identify.

Where do limiting beliefs come from?

Limiting beliefs come from many varying sources. The most common tend to be family, coaches, teachers, and social media. Formed by repetitive thoughts, they’re mostly created during childhood (this isn’t about putting blame on anyone) although it’s not uncommon for them to develop as an adult.

As children its easy to form limiting beliefs because our brains are not fully developed. Due to this we sometimes have a hard time knowing the difference between what is real or what is not.

To explain this simply;

• A situation occurred

• Interpretation was made

• This created meaning

• That led to a thought

• The thought was perceived as real and true (Even though it probably wasn’t)

• The thought kept coming up as other similar situations happened through life

• Believed to be true. 

How to destroy your limiting beliefs?

Yes, you can beat those limiting beliefs and completely overcome the hurdles you’ve set for yourself. Like almost everything else in life, it's going to take hard work, dedication, and focus. But I promise, you can definitely control those limiting beliefs.

How you ask? 

Get started with the simple tips below. 

• Do your research… Has anyone ever done what you are trying to do?

• Keep track… Write down every example. Keep a journal and write down the opposite of your negative belief. Negative belief; I’ll never be able to start my own business / Positive belief; I’m thankful for starting a healthy growing business!

• Recall past successes… Have you ever successfully achieved a goal in the past? Write it down! Write down the feeling you experienced at that moment in as much detail as possible.

• Do something creative.

• Relax and visualize

• Create the feeling by using all of your senses. Visualize the life you want, the career you have, the house, family, car even as detailed as the balance of you saving account. Create a detailed image in your mind of your goal. 

I hope this blog post has helped you identify some of your limiting beliefs, and given you some thoughts on how to overcome them.

Do you feel like you need more help identifying limiting beliefs? Or maybe you need some help beating those limiting beliefs out of your life?

This is EXACTLY what I focus on with the clients in my program. I help strong individuals regain empowerment, control and balance.

Fill out the quick form below to learn more!