Go Get It: 5 Steps to Eliminating Self-Limiting Beliefs
Updated: May 12, 2021
Do you know how powerful you really are? Do you know how much you truly have to offer to this world? Although you may say yes, you might still be impeded by self-limiting beliefs.
Within you is a power that you have yet to tap into. Sadly, you will never come into this power unless you address your self-limiting beliefs. In this article, we’ll address what self-limiting beliefs are, give you some examples of self-limiting beliefs (because you might not be aware), and how to kick those self-limiting beliefs to the curb.
Afterwards, you’ll have the ammunition you need to believe in yourself and the power to go get whatever you desire in life.
==>Watch this Video: Personal success coach, author and founder of Power and Success Ministries, Ellard "L" Thomas delivers a highly impactful, provocative and motivational message to help those struggling with self-limiting beliefs. Check it out now!
Table of Contents
- What are Self-Limiting Beliefs: The Meaning
- Why Self-Limiting Beliefs Occur?
- 25 Examples of Self-Limiting Beliefs
- 4 Steps to Eliminating Self-Limiting Beliefs
- Eliminating Self-Limiting Beliefs Summary
- Self-Limiting Beliefs Resources
What are Self-Limiting Beliefs: The Meaning
Before you can afoot the path to eliminating your self-limiting beliefs, it’s important for you to know how they are defined and how they could be holding you back.
According to several mediums, a self-limiting belief is something you believe to be true about yourself—although such beliefs are usually false. As with millions of people around the world, these beliefs may be holding you back from investing in yourself, taking chances on your dreams, keeping you blinded to new financial opportunities, preventing you from accepting gifts offered to you, or simply keeping you bound to focusing on the negative aspects of your life and circumstances.
One of the problems of self-limiting beliefs is the notion that we don’t have them because they are hard to identify. Here’s what you don’t realize. Limiting beliefs are powerful enough to impact the reality of your circumstances.
Why Self-Limiting Beliefs Occur?
Whether you know it, or not, your beliefs begin in your childhood. It’s during this period that we form beliefs about the world and our place in it. Our brains are good at spotting patterns and making key associations, thus we constantly process the wealth of information that comes to us. Unfortunately, many of our self-limiting beliefs stem from the lack of positive reinforcement.
As you back at your life, why do you believe what you believe about who you are? Your capabilities and abilities? Your confidence?
So many of us have come to believe that we’re inferior to others, that we’re not good enough for new opportunities, that we don’t look enough for someone who’s “out of our leagues”, or we’re undeserving of happiness and success.
Once I realized what self-limiting beliefs were, I realized that my negative perception of myself stemmed from my childhood.
I grew up in an abusive household and was then sent to foster care following an in-home tragedy. After years of being told that I would become nothing in life, and that no one would ever want me, I started to believe this.
And as a result, I didn’t pursue opportunities that I wanted—professionally, socially, relationally and financially. I didn’t make the investments in my personal development like I should have.
Unfortunately, I allowed my odious past and the so-called naysayers determine the outcome of my life. It wasn’t until I had enough of sitting on the sidelines that I changed how I saw myself. It wasn’t until then I learned who I was.
25 Examples of Self-Limiting Beliefs
Before I move forward and give you the steps of getting rid of your limiting beliefs for good, I’d like to share with you a few limiting beliefs examples. I’m doing this so you know what limiting beliefs you may have about yourself—without even realizing it.
1. I’m too old.
2. I’m too young.
3. I lack money and resources.
4. I’m too fat or too skinny … too tall or too short.
5. I’m not smart enough.
6. I’m not popular enough.
7. I’m not connected enough.
8. Others are in my way.
9. I’m a mess, it’s hopeless
10. I don’t have enough energy
11. I expect others to hurt me
12. I’ll never be happy
13. I’ll never be successful
14. People won’t like the real me
15. I just have bad luck
16. I’ll always be broke
17. I don’t deserve more than what I have
18. I’m not important
19. I can’t trust myself
20. I’m not self-disciplined
21. I’m powerless
22. I can’t change
23. I’m not strong enough
24. I wasn’t born into the right kind of family
25. I don’t deserve to be happy
This list above isn’t exhaustive, but it reveals the limiting beliefs that are commonly shared by people all over the world. Do you recognize your self-limiting beliefs? If so, you’re about to change your entire life.
4 Steps to Eliminating Self-Limiting Beliefs
Whatever dream you have…whatever goals you wish to achieve…whatever level you’d like to acquire in life, you have the ability to get it. Let these following steps guide you to a different mindset and a new way of believing.
Step 1: Understand who you are
Despite the negativity you have experience in your life, or the positive affirmations that you didn’t receive, know that you have value. Even if it’s not with other people, you are seen differently by God.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Whatever you lack in life, God is letting you know that you are significant—you are incredible—you are talented—you are powerful. Knowing who you are gives you the confidence to go after the life you’ve been desiring to pursue.
Step 2: Jot down every limiting belief
One of the greatest exercises that you can do is to write down every limiting belief that you have. The reason behind this is simple. When you put your negative thoughts in their written form, then it’s easier to write a new script.
Additionally, writing down these statements reveal how false these beliefs really are. You may even find yourself shaking your head in disbelief once you see these beliefs no longer have power of you.
Step 3: Acknowledge the falsity of these beliefs
For most people, this is often a hard step because these individuals want to hold on to their limiting beliefs. In a way, I can get it. Here’s why.
When you believe in something for so long, no matter what it is, this belief becomes part of your identity. Even if the belief is inaccurate. So, rather than adopt a new belief system, most people defend their old way of thinking due to the fear of losing who they are.
But as I stated in step one, when you realize who you really are, there’s nothing to defend—only to accept your newly discovered awesomeness.
Step 4: Practice believing differently
Adopting a new way of believing means to accept and embrace a different way of seeing and thinking about yourself. The reason why your limiting beliefs are so strong is because you’ve practiced them for so long. The same holds true when you start adopting more self-empowering beliefs.
On a daily basis, remind yourself about what you believe about who you are. Get in the habit of speaking highly about yourself. You are incredible. You are phenomenal. You are the right person for that opportunity. You are confident. You are a great spouse. You are a great parent. Get use to believing how powerful of an individual you are.
In the spirit of adopting empowering beliefs, and putting an end to your limiting ones, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite poems: Invictus.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
I chose this poem because of the history behind it. While in the hospital being treated for Pott's disease (commonly known as Tuberculosis of the bone), William Ernest Henley believed, that, even in face of imminent death, that he was stronger than the ailment that had his body.
Will you too become "the master of your fate and the captain of your soul?" You can by kicking your self-limiting beliefs to the curb right now and forever!
Summary
We’re all on the quest to becoming the better version of ourselves. Yet, we do not become better until we rid ourselves from the weight of self-limiting beliefs. You now hold the roadmap to achieving whatever you’d like to go after—unhindered by negative thoughts and false beliefs.
Whenever you feel those old beliefs creeping in your head, take a moment and remember this. You were created in the image of God, and as you know, God doesn’t think lowly of himself. Nor should you. No go get what you deserve!
Resources
Stopping your self-limiting beliefs is the utmost importance right now. In addition to the four steps to eliminating self-limiting beliefs, here are a few resources that will help you get adopt more positive and empowering self-beliefs.
Mindzoom: This is a revolutionary software that will reprogram your mind and body automatically to help you adopt an empowering self-beliefs system. Check it out!
Defeating Goliath: This inspiring and powerful book has helped transformed thousands of peoples lives by helping them overcome the obstacles that prevent happiness and success. Rated 4.5/5 stars on Amazon, it's the must-get study guide to transforming your life. Check it out!
Neurovector: This new and revolutionary technology will help remedy your self-limiting thoughts and behaviors. Start revolutionizing your life today! Check it out!
Ellard Thomas is the founder of Power and Success Ministries--an organization that's dedicated to helping people live a life of success and happiness as God intended. To ask questions or connect with me, you may do so here. Also, take a moment to join our online community so you can start getting empowerment messages sent directly to your inbox.