There are so many self limiting beliefs out there that can have an effect on your life. Self limiting beliefs impact everything you do from the decisions you make to how much sleep you get each night. They can cause you to feel worthless, incompetent and helpless. If these beliefs are holding you back from achieving your goals, here are some ways to break free from them.
First, realize that self-limiting beliefs are misconceptions. Everyone has different beliefs and everyone’s belief systems are as unique as their personalities. You have nothing to lose by exploring new belief systems and new possibilities. For example, many people believe they cannot be successful at something because they don’t have the skills, training or experience to do it. This type of belief is limiting and will stop you from doing anything in your life.
The next step is to replace those limiting beliefs with new beliefs that empower you. Instead of saying you don’t have the skills, training or experience to do something, start saying you do. Replace the word “skill” with an action phrase such as, “I’ve been hired for a new position” or “I’ve decided to quit my job”. As you start replacing the word “limitation” with something positive, you will soon be on your way to changing your self-limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs. You just need to get started and don’t give up.
Next, you have to get rid of self limiting beliefs about yourself. The worst thing you could do is to think that you aren’t good enough or talented enough to do the things you want to do. Even if you think you aren’t good enough, don’t allow this belief to stop you. If it does, you need to replace that limiting belief with a more empowering one: I am good enough to do whatever I want to do! This belief alone can change your life – believe it.
One of the most powerful tools you have to get rid of your self limiting beliefs about yourself is to use humor. People are amazingly self-critical and they have a tendency to put others down, even if they don’t mean to. When you notice yourself criticizing other people or yourself, focus on the joke within that comment and acknowledge that it’s a joke. If you continue to concentrate on that negative comment as if it were real, it will sink into your subconscious and begin to affect your thoughts, feelings and actions. If you continue to use humor to counteract your self-critical thinking, your self-limiting beliefs will begin to melt away.
You also need to get clear on which types of limiting beliefs are keeping you down. For example, if you feel like you don’t deserve a promotion or a raise because of some qualities that are not true about you, then focus on the qualities that are true about you. For example, if you feel like you aren’t competent at a job because you were fired from a previous job, then focus on the jobs you’ve done in the past that were well. Or if you feel like you don’t have any personality at all, then focus on having several personality traits that make up your unique character. By doing these exercises regularly, you will soon start to notice a shift in how you perceive yourself. Once you start to feel better about yourself, you will naturally begin to want to do things that improve your quality of life.
If these self-limiting beliefs affect you on a daily basis, then you might want to start working to change them. You may be skeptical about trying to build self-confidence and assertiveness on your own, but there are many tools available for this purpose. For example, you may want to invest in a step-by-step guidebook that shows you step by step how to become a more competent and confident leader. On the other hand, you may have some self-limiting beliefs about how smart people are, so you may want to invest in a series of articles that help you explain the difference between smart and not smart. Whatever your situation is, it’s important to keep these in mind. The truth is, no one else can help you more than you can.
No matter what your situation is, you need to take the initiative to make positive changes in yourself. Don’t let yourself get pressured by others or feel bad about being different. Everyone has to start somewhere, and if you make a conscious effort to improve yourself, you will be amazed at just how much better life can be for you. Remember that no one is responsible for you, but you have the ability to take control of your life.