Overcoming limiting beliefs is a powerful step towards personal growth and achieving your goals.
“Limiting beliefs” are negative thoughts that repeat in our minds and have control over our thoughts and actions. These negative beliefs may be learned from others (like a parent, relative or spouse who repeated them over and over) or they may be the result of a past event that is holding you back.
Getting stuck
It is common for people to be “stuck” in these negative beliefs, as if they are part of our identity. Example negative beliefs that cause people to get stuck:
- I was always overweight.
- I am disorganized.
- I do not have a good personality.
- People do not like me because ___.
- I feel that I’m not worthy of a promotion.
- They will find out ___ and not like me.
- I’m not good enough.
With repetition, negative thoughts or ideas can become so ingrained that you no longer realize that they are not reality. They are only a mental construct. This “false construct” is reinforced only by the repetition of negative messages said or thought over and over. Unconsciously, we tend to use these limiting beliefs to explain uncomfortable moments, which reinforces the negative thoughts even more.
For some, negative beliefs may cause us to hate ourselves. It is not unusual to become jealous, envious, or angry with others that may appear to be more fortunate, popular, or successful. Which results in even more isolation, lack of support, and fewer learning experiences.
Making things worse
Overcompensation by trying too hard to “prove my self-worth” doesn’t work. becoming controlling or overachieving may compound problems without healing the negative beliefs.
In the worst case, negative beliefs create emotional turmoil and make us more stuck. “Stuckness” prevents growth, shuts down opportunities, and limits our sense of power, freedom, and self-fulfillment.
Over time, our quality of life in relationships, career, and our social support system can suffer in the presence of these negative beliefs to the point of anxiety, depression and stagnation.
It’s a vicious cycle that can stop people from showing up for new goals or to take actions to get back on track after stressful events. Anticipating more failure, it’s easy to give up. The negative effect of this vicious cycle leads to debilitating anxiety, depression, and for some, addiction. It also contributes to failed marriages and relationships. It can eventually affect children’s wellbeing.
A new start
A new start is possible, but it takes work.
The first step is to reach out and connect with a psychotherapy specialist. We work together to identify your specific “limiting beliefs,” becoming aware that they exist, and pinpoint the source of the trouble: Where did these ideas come from? Another person drilling it into your thinking? A traumatic event that’s still in the back of your mind?
This process requires work with a skillful therapist who will listen to you carefully, without judgment. Their role is to hear what you are saying without any preconceived ideas about you and your experience. A certified specialist can hear where you are coming from and they are trained to help you to question the validity of that “voice” in your thinking that holds the false narrative in place.
Together, we can explore the origins of your limiting beliefs and reprocess your thinking in a way that brings new reality, clarity, and relief.
A happier version of yourself – based on the reality of who you really are – is within reach. Together we consider alternative, new thoughts and beliefs about you that can open new possibilities and new energy that is uplifting. Practicing your new skills needs support.
Visualizing Success
With practice, you can teach your mind to overcome limiting beliefs by reinforcing the true messages about who you really are and what you are capable of doing.
It is liberating.