Did you know the words you say to yourself matter? In fact, if you aren’t saying kind and helpful words to yourself, they can really hold you back in life. These are known as limiting beliefs.

We weren’t born with these beliefs; they usually come from things that happened to us in the past, what society tells us, what our family or friends say, or what we learn from our culture. They totally mess up our minds and make us think that we can't do things or that it's not worth trying.

These beliefs can be about us, other people, or the whole world, and they usually make us think bad thoughts about ourselves. Do you ever catch yourself saying any of these?

Examples of Limiting Beliefs

Self-Worth and Ability: "I'm not smart enough to start my own business."
Age-Related: "I'm too old to learn a new language."
Fear of Failure: "If I try and fail, I'll be embarrassed or rejected, so it's better not to try."
Deservability: "I don't deserve to be happy or successful."
Comparative Beliefs: "Everyone else is better at this than I am, so why bother?"

Believe it or not, those limiting thoughts and beliefs are going to be what keeps you from your goals and desires. Plus, they can creep up on women of any age and any economic background.

Impact of Limiting Beliefs

Limiting beliefs are powerful, often subconscious, convictions that can shape our lives in profound ways. While they might seem like mere thoughts or internal whispers, their impact extends far beyond our inner dialogue, influencing our actions, decisions, and overall trajectory in life.

Basically, what you say to yourself MATTERS.

These beliefs, rooted in fear, doubt, and past experiences, can significantly constrain our potential, affecting everything from personal growth to professional success. Understanding the depth and breadth of their influence is the first step towards freeing ourselves from their grip. Let's explore the impact of limiting beliefs and how they can restrict growth, affect decision-making, lower self-esteem, and hinder happiness and success.

Restricting Growth

Limiting beliefs act like invisible fences around our potential, often without us even realizing it. When we believe that we're incapable of achieving certain things, we're less likely to take the necessary steps to grow.

This could mean not applying for a dream job because we think we're not qualified, not enrolling in a class to learn a new skill because we believe we're too old or not talented enough, or even not pursuing a hobby because we've told ourselves we wouldn't be good at it. Over time, this avoidance of challenges and new experiences can lead to a stagnation of personal growth and development, making us feel stuck in our current circumstances.

Affecting Decision-Making

Limiting beliefs can significantly skew our decision-making processes. When faced with a decision, these beliefs can cause us to choose the safer, more comfortable option rather than the one that aligns with our true desires or ambitions.

This is often because fear—of failure, judgment, and the unknown—takes the driver's seat, steering us away from potentially rewarding paths. The result is a life filled with "what ifs" and paths not taken, which can lead to regret and dissatisfaction.

Lowering Self-Esteem

The constant internal narrative that we're not good enough, smart enough, young enough, or simply "enough" in some way chips away at our self-esteem and self-confidence.

This erosion can make it even harder to challenge and overcome those limiting beliefs, creating a vicious cycle of self-doubt and negative self-talk. Low self-esteem affects not just our ambitions but also our relationships and mental health, leading to a diminished sense of value and belonging.

Hindering Success

Limiting beliefs directly impacts our ability to achieve success and fulfillment. By not pursuing opportunities, we automatically close the door on potential successes. In addition, when we give up at the first sign of difficulty, we rob ourselves of the resilience and grit needed to overcome obstacles and achieve long-term goals.

Success often requires persistence, learning from failure, and the belief that we are capable of improving and succeeding. Limiting beliefs hold us back from all these, keeping us from reaching our full potential and experiencing the joy and satisfaction of achieving our goals.

Transforming Limiting Beliefs

The transformation begins with recognizing and understanding these impacts. By actively working to identify, question, and replace limiting beliefs with more empowering and positive ones, we can start to dismantle these invisible barriers.

This process is not overnight but requires persistence, self-compassion, and sometimes the support of others. The reward, however, is a life lived with fewer regrets, more growth, and a deeper sense of fulfillment and success.

How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Just by changing your mindset, you can change your life!

Do you remember the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could”? It’s a story about a little blue engine that makes her way over the mountain by believing in herself… "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."

You can use that same mantra for everything you set out to do in your life, whether the goal is small or big. By actively working to identify and overcome limiting beliefs, you can unlock your full potential and open up a world of possibilities for personal and professional growth.

Identify and Acknowledge: The first step is to recognize and admit to yourself that you have these beliefs. Self-awareness is key.
Question Their Validity: Examine where these beliefs came from and ask yourself if they are truly accurate. Often, they are based on outdated or incorrect information.
Challenge and Replace: Once identified, actively challenge these beliefs by seeking evidence that contradicts them. Replace them with empowering beliefs that support your goals and self-worth.
Mindfulness and Positive Affirmations: Practice mindfulness to stay present and reduce negative self-talk. Use positive affirmations to reinforce new, positive beliefs about your capabilities.
Seek Support: Sometimes, overcoming deeply ingrained beliefs requires support from friends, mentors, or professionals like therapists or coaches.

Related Post: What to Wear to Feel Confident

Final Thoughts

Overcoming limiting beliefs is a challenging yet rewarding journey. We need to confront the negative thoughts and behavior patterns that have been holding us back. These beliefs can affect our personal and professional growth, self-esteem, and success.

But don't worry, we have the power to change them. We can cultivate self-awareness and embrace a growth mindset. But keep in mind that it takes time, patience, and effort to overcome these limiting beliefs. It's okay to seek support from friends, family, mentors, or professionals.

Overcoming limiting beliefs can empower us to achieve more than we ever thought we could. We can learn, grow, and find fulfillment in new opportunities.

Remember, our beliefs about ourselves and the world can be changed. We can turn them into sources of strength instead of barriers. It's an enriching experience that can inspire others who are struggling with their own limiting beliefs.

To conclude, overcoming limiting beliefs is a journey of self-discovery and growth. We need to challenge the negative narratives we've been telling ourselves and open ourselves up to change. By doing this, we can unlock our full potential and live the life we aspire to.