subject: Experience How Eliminating Limiting Beliefs Can Create Your Ultimate Life [print this page] You may think that "Limiting Beliefs" sounds like a recent phenomenon, but it describes an issue that's been going on for centuries.
Historically famous writer Frank Lloyd Wright once spoke against limiting beliefs, "The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."
Years later, self-help guru Brian Tracy would opine, "The biggest obstacle to creating a wonderful life is self-limiting beliefs. A self-limiting belief is an idea you have that you are limited in some way, in terms of time, talent, intelligence, money, ability, or opportunity."
If we choose to believe in our limitations surely they will be realized. Whether they are conscious or unconscious, each and every one of us has limiting beliefs that hold us back from what we really want.
Limiting beliefs are ones that we hold to tell us what we cannot do. It's the opposite of The Little Engine That Could: even without explanation, we might tell ourselves, "I don't think I can." This happens to all of us even when we need to motivate ourselves the most, and even if there's no rational explanation for why we can't.
You might say, "I know what you mean, but I'm way ahead of you. I'll just figure out what my limiting beliefs are and get rid of them. It's as simple as that!"
That may be more easily said than done.
An easy example of a limiting belief is the internalization of an overbearing parent, who tells a child over and over again "you'll never amount to anything." The child grows up, and early in his career, he forgoes opportunities for advancement; they don't seem like they're "for him". Subconsciously, he believes he will fail - even without any objective reason to think so.
Even more seemingly benign labels can shape a child's identity that could forge limiting beliefs. A girl constantly called a tomboy may feel later in life that she will never understand and connect with other women. Why not? Because she's always been a tomboy, of course she can't understand! Why even try?
The first thing you have to do is consciously identify limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are like the shadows, where they can undermine you unobserved. Drag them out into the light of day, so it's a fair fight. And watch out - limiting beliefs aren't always blatant and easily flushed out. They can masquerade as "identity": "I'm really not the kind of person who..."
Think of the troublemaker: is he truly a troublemaker by nature or is it simply behavior reinforced by a persistent label? What's really stopping the troublemaker from reforming? Chances are it is nothing, or at least, simply his limiting beliefs. Can the tomboy truly never relate or understand other females? What's stopping her? There's a good chance it's nothing but a ridiculous belief over time. If it's something you want to do, there's nothing bad about trying, and success can have an added benefit: finally shedding the label and growing into a more well-rounded person.
The next time you think, "I can't do it," think in turn: why not? Think hard. Are there any legitimate, tangible reasons for not trying or is it just irrational fear? If it's the former, and it likely is, then guess what? You surely can do it.
Limiting beliefs block people from their potential all the time. Don't let it happen to you. Dig deep to uncover yours and overcome them. You'll find your own potential skyrocket!
