Limiting beliefs can be considered the opposite of empowering beliefs. They can also be called the key to empowerment. It is important to know what these beliefs are because they hold you back from enjoying your life fully and also limiting you in other aspects of your life. Limiting beliefs can be very destructive not only in the mind but in the body as well. Some common limiting beliefs include the following:
o I don’t deserve to get this (also known as the blame Belief). This limiting belief keeps you stuck in the victim role and prevents you from taking any action to change a problematic situation. For example, if you believe that you are not good enough or valuable enough to get a promotion or a new job, you will not take any steps forward in trying to improve yourself. This belief will keep you stuck in a victim role and prevents you from taking responsibility for your own actions. You will feel that you are responsible for all the problems in your life instead of the fact that you are having difficulties that you have little control over.
o I can do nothing right (the blame belief). Most people have a constant source of unwanted feelings, which they contract onto themselves when they believe these limiting beliefs. These beliefs stop you from doing anything to change the circumstances in your life even when it is in your own best interest to do so.
o I am helpless without my spouse/partner/life partner (emotional dependency belief). A major part of a person’s emotional dependency is their relationship with a spouse or partner. Most of our habits, whether good or bad are the result of our relationships with those that we care about. A person who thinks that they are incapable of doing anything on their own because of a relationship with a spouse or partner is very limiting beliefs that keep them from doing anything about their life issues.
o I am just a body/mind/spirit/life without a soul (ego-belief). This type of limiting beliefs is the most common, especially among people who are not educated in how to develop their beliefs in a healthy way that allows them to grow personally and professionally. People with this type of limiting belief often feel like “nothing is their fault”, and they have no motivation to change themselves or their circumstances.
To My mind/body/spirit is separate from or independent from everything else (ego-belief). Although this may seem like a valid belief at first glance, this type of limiting beliefs becomes very hard to overcome when it comes to facing life challenges or changing life for the better. People who hold this type of false belief often have an extremely difficult time accepting new things in their lives that aren’t “their way”. They also have a hard time seeing the needs and desires of others because they don’t understand them or see them as valuable or important.
o I cannot be moved or changed by anything or anyone (illusory belief). Many people are programmed by their caregiver to believe that they are worthless, unimportant, or not worthy of being helped or valued. This type ofillusory belief is very common among autistic individuals, and the solution for this problem is to learn to accept that there is a great deal more to a person than their biological make up and surrounding environment. This belief is related to the paralyzing “what if” response, which many autistic individuals experience on a regular basis. Recognizing this condition and learning how to redirect the “what if” response is a key component to helping someone with Autism control their autistic symptoms.
These four autism misconceptions are the biggest limiting beliefs of all. Autism is not a disease that can be fixed or prevented. However, by learning how to recognize and manage these four limiting beliefs, a person with Autism can become an amazing self-made survivor. The most important thing to remember is to learn how to let go of any negative “what if” thinking and replace it with “what can happen if I do this.”