Breaking Barriers: Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs & Break-Through Internal Resistance
We all have limiting beliefs.
They could be from childhood experiences, family members’ comments, or teachers’ criticisms.
But no matter how you got these false beliefs, those beliefs eventually create a glass ceiling on your potential.
Overcoming limiting beliefs starts with identifying false beliefs and then using mental frameworks to reframe or eliminate them.
If you want to overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back from crushing your goals, keep reading to learn how to build better beliefs.
Identifying Limiting Beliefs
Before you can become the newer, better version of yourself, you must identify the limits that have prevented you from accomplishing that goal.
A limiting belief is a state of mind or habit that somehow restricts your behavior.
Let’s say you’ve had dreams of building your own business, but it’s been years, and you haven’t done anything to build it.
You haven’t taken action toward building your business because of limiting beliefs about your ability to successfully create and develop a business.
The root of these beliefs may be due to: fear of failure, fear of success, fear of judgment, or fear of incompetence.
Fear of failure is when you are afraid to take action because you might fail. On the contrary, fear of success is when you are scared to take action because if you do, you might not be able to maintain your success once achieved.
Fear of judgment prevents you from taking action because you fear the perceived judgment or criticism you might get from people around you.
Fear of incompetence, often linked to a fixed mindset, is when you are afraid to take action because you don’t inherently know what to do or how to do it.
Once you start reflecting and identifying the root causes of the belief, you can develop the mental frameworks to internalize growth-focused beliefs.
Top 12 Limiting Beliefs and Mental Reframes
If you’re new to fixed vs. growth mindset and beliefs, it may be difficult to identify which beliefs are limiting you.
As you start reflecting on your beliefs, limiting beliefs may present as:
I am not good enough at [insert task] to be successful (fear of failure)
I don’t know how to do [insert task] (fear of incompetence)
I’m not as good as [insert successful person], so it’s just better if I don’t do it at all (fear of failure)
What if people don’t like or support me? (fear of judgment)
I’ve never done this before; what if I suck at it? (fear of failure)
Why start if I don’t know what to do first? (fear of incompetence)
What if I fail or succeed and then lose it all? What will people think of me? (fear of failure/success)
I have to do more research before I take action (fear of incompetence)
What if I fail and lose the respect of others around me? (fear of failure/judgment)
I want to make sure that when I do start, everything is perfect. (fear of judgment)
What if this idea or business blows up in my face? (fear of success)
What if I am not as smart as I think and make a fool of myself? (fear of incompetence)
Are any of the beliefs on this list preventing you from taking action to achieve your goals?
By developing a growth mindset, you learn to overcome these beliefs by taking action anyway.
You can try this 15-minute exercise to identify your most prevalent limiting beliefs:
Take 15 minutes and write down one goal that you have not yet achieved at the top. Then underneath, list all the reasons you have for not achieving that goal. From this list, select three of the biggest reasons and brainstorm solutions for all three. If you have multiple goals, you can repeat this process for each goal.
After completing the exercise, you should have identified the limiting beliefs, disguised as justifications and rationalizations, preventing you from taking action.
If your list looks similar to the one above, you can try these mental reframes to help you overcome those beliefs and develop a growth mindset:
I may not be good yet, but I will be with enough effort and practice.
I may not know how to [insert task], but I can learn.
I may not be as good as [insert successful person], but I can be better with enough effort.
It’s okay if people don’t like or support me; I can still accomplish my goals.
It’s okay to suck at something I haven’t done before.
It’s okay if I don’t know what to do; I can still take imperfect action.
It’s okay if I fail; failure is just an opportunity to learn so I can improve next time.
I don’t have to know everything to take action; I can take action with my current information.
Even if I fail, I can still learn from my mistakes.
Done is better than perfect; take action anyway.
Everything can blow up in my face, and that’s okay. I won’t lose everything I’ve learned along the way.
It’s okay if I don’t know enough yet; I can learn any skill required to accomplish my goals.
By reframing limiting beliefs, you give yourself compassion for your present state while recognizing that you can put in the effort to become the person you need to be.
Limiting-Belief Reflection Exercises
You may uncover more limiting beliefs and internal glass ceilings as you level up.
Like an onion, you must peel back the layers of beliefs holding you back from achieving your potential.
Journaling or completing self-reflection exercises allows you to analyze your beliefs objectively and process uncomfortable emotions.
Use the reflection prompts at the end of this post to help you identify limiting beliefs, process unresolved trauma, and develop the mental frameworks to help you succeed.
Limiting beliefs are often the unseen obstacles that stop us from achieving our true potential. The first step towards overcoming these barriers is acknowledging their existence and identifying their root cause, whether fear of failure, judgment, success, or incompetence.
We discussed common limiting beliefs and provided strategies to reframe them into growth-oriented perspectives.
Now, the next step is yours to take.
Remember, the journey of self-improvement is an ongoing process, just like peeling an onion. As you continue to grow and evolve, you will find yourself increasingly free from the restrictions of your mind, empowering you to achieve your goals and reach your full potential.
“Self-reflection is the gateway to freedom. It also brings greater appreciation and enjoyment. We begin to enjoy spending time with our own mind, and we enjoy reflecting on our experience of the teachings. Like the sun emerging from behind the clouds, the teachings of the dharma become clear.”
