Why does it seem so difficult to overcome self-limiting beliefs? mysavvymind.com /2016/06/28/overcome-self-limiting-beliefs/
Are you held back by self-limiting beliefs? Why can’t we seem to overcome self-limiting beliefs? Why are these beliefs so persistent in our minds? A self-limiting belief is a self-imposed prison which exists in our minds and hinders us from living the life we truly want to live. For example, beliefs such as: I’m not pretty or handsome enough I lack sufficient formal education Some people are just lucky and I don’t belong to that group of people I’m not smart enough I don’t have what it takes to succeed I’m not an extrovert so I can’t succeed I don’t come from a prestigious family These beliefs have been programmed in our minds most of the time from childhood and they hinder us from fulfilling our dreams. Have you ever asked yourself what you would have accomplished in your life if you didn’t have these self-limiting beliefs? As children, we grow up thinking we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to do but these self-limiting beliefs which are developed over time hold us back. Self-limiting beliefs tend to do seemingly irreversible damage to the unlocking or maximization of our hidden potential. I had so many self-limiting beliefs earlier on in my life. I believed I wasn’t good enough or smart enough. I would go for events and I would not speak to anyone. Later on, I would always make up excuses to not go to places where I would have to socialize. I didn’t even know these beliefs were self-limiting.
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Self-limiting beliefs tend to have a negative impact on you because: They hinder your progress in life They stop you from maximizing your potential They stop you from living life to the fullest They limit your ability to have meaningful relationships They make you seem incompetent in your business/career Over time, I learned to overcome self-limiting beliefs. It was not an easy experience but this experience taught me 5 practical steps which I would like to share with you today.
1) Take an assessment of your self-limiting beliefs This first step is far from easy. It will bring up all sorts of hidden issues you would rather leave buried. However, for you to experience total freedom, these issues need to come to light. It could be something your mother or father said when you were a child. It could even be an experience in a previous relationship in which you were treated badly. Never let the limiting beliefs or insecurities of others limit what’s possible for you. – Hal Elrod Click To Tweet You need to get to the root of these self-limiting beliefs and assess them deeply. Look at them closely as though you are looking into a mirror. It helps to come face to face with your beliefs. The hold of the self-limiting belief on your mind reduces significantly when you look at it closely.
2) Compare these beliefs with positive belief systems This is more like breaking up your fallow ground. Don’t let someone’s opinion of you become your reality. What recent positive feedback have you had that made you begin to doubt those self-limiting beliefs? Asking my friends and in some cases, my superiors what they really thought about me helped me to see myself from a different perspective. Sometimes, we realize that people even believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. This can be a truly liberating revelation. You would also realize you have come so far from the time in your life these beliefs were developed in you.
3) Take positive steps towards re-affirmation After you have done a comparison of these self-limiting beliefs with positive belief systems, take positive steps towards re-affirmation. You might need to place some sticky notes on your desktop or some Post-It notes on your wall. Paste positive statements about yourself and read them out loud to yourself consistently. It really does work.
4) Do It Afraid I finally decided one day to stop running away from events. What was the worst that could happen anyway? I have met many amazing people from those events who have helped me in life and in business. I am so grateful I didn’t let those beliefs continue to hold me back.
What is that fear you have been harboring in your heart for a while? Decide today to do it afraid. Sometimes, after you have re-affirmed yourself with positive beliefs, you still don’t feel
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completely rid of the self-limiting beliefs. Then it is time to do it afraid.
5) Develop a sense of gratitude This might not seem like the ideal step to overcome self-limiting beliefs. However, developing a sense of gratitude would help you get over yourself. Focusing on yourself enhances your ability to see flaws and areas in which you feel you are lacking. When you realize there is so much more to life than just you and people do need you, you would overcome self-limiting beliefs. Knowing life is about helping people and leaving an impact on the people you come across is vital to overcoming self-limiting beliefs. You experience a fulfilled life when you help other people. To overcome self-limiting beliefs is to embark on an amazing journey but the duration of this journey can also be reduced with the implementation of these 5 practical steps. Also understand that these beliefs are all in your mind and you have what it takes to change your mindset. Make the decision today to move forward and live your life to the fullest. How have you overcome self-limiting beliefs in the past? What self-limiting beliefs hindered you from achieving your goals? Please leave your answers and comments in the comments section. I look forward to hearing from you. Dedicated to your success, Ifeanyi Omoike
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