The complete guide to limiting beliefs
Do you have goals you want to achieve? Of course you do – you may want to advance your career, start a business, find love or strengthen your relationship, exercise and lose weight or start healthy routines. Growth is a powerful human need, and we all have desires in life.
So what’s stopping you?
Any answer you give to that question isn’t a fact – it’s an excuse. That’s the plain truth. The only things truly stopping you are your own limiting beliefs.
What are limiting beliefs?
Limiting beliefs are the stories we tell ourselves about who we are that hold us back from becoming who we are meant to be. These beliefs limit us from reaching our full potential. They are often subconscious – we don’t even know that we have them until someone points them out to us.
The human brain is wired to conserve energy. We seek certainty in our routines, relationships and jobs. We’re often averse to risk and don’t want to get out of our comfort zones. And we only invest energy into taking action when we believe it will produce results. When we don’t believe we can get results – when we don’t have a deep belief in ourselves – we give up before we start. We don’t put in our full effort. We sabotage our own success. That’s the very definition of limiting beliefs.
Four common limiting beliefs examples
Limiting beliefs affect every area of our lives and can hold us back in a variety of ways. There are even some common thoughts that are limiting beliefs. To identify your limiting beliefs, ask yourself if any of these sound familiar:
1. I don’t have time. Nearly everyone on the planet has given this excuse at some point. But when you truly care about something – a task, goal or relationship – you make time for it. Everyone has the same hours in the day. It’s what you do with them that matters.
2. I don’t have what it takes. This is an easy limiting belief to tell ourselves in our careers. It often masks a fear of failure – or sometimes a fear of success. We compare ourselves to others and think, “I couldn’t do that. I don’t have the skills.” But guess what? With focus and belief, you can learn any skill.
3. I’m not strong enough. This belief keeps us in our comfort zone. We don’t believe that we have the inner strength to bounce back from rejection, failure or discomfort. We’d rather stay where we are than risk getting hurt.
4. I don’t deserve love. This is one of the most common limiting beliefs in relationships. When we believe we don’t deserve love, we may reject every potential partner, sabotage our relationships with arguing and cheating or avoid dating altogether. That’s no way to go through life.
How to identify your limiting beliefs
The truth is that we all have unlimited potential. Success starts with this belief. When we deeply believe that we are capable and deserving of success, we’re able to tap into that potential. This drives greater action, which in turn drives greater results. That reinforces our belief in ourselves, and the cycle begins again – even stronger. Anyone can tap into this cycle of success. It starts with identifying your limiting beliefs.
The next time you make an excuse – like the limiting beliefs examples above – ask yourself: Is this true? Or is it a limiting belief? The next time you say to yourself “I’ve always been this way” or “This is just who I am,” catch that thought and replace it with a more empowering belief. Work on developing a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset. Believe that you can change. Believe that you are worth it.
Resources for overcoming limiting beliefs
Use the resources below to identify your limiting beliefs so that you can begin to live in a more beautiful state – one that is empowering, goal-oriented and focused.
Are your beliefs holding you back?
Identifying and overcoming your limiting beliefs creates a powerful breakthrough moment. Tony says, “We can change our lives. We can do, have and be exactly what we wish.” Watch the moment actor Hugh Jackman had his breakthrough and learn more about changing your story.
Steps to overcoming limiting beliefs
Overcoming limiting beliefs isn’t always easy. They are deeply ingrained in us, often from childhood. But once you discover what they are and how to identify them, you can learn how to overcome your limiting beliefs.
How to stop negative self-talk
Your story starts with your self-talk. What does your internal monologue tell you? Do you treat yourself like a friend or an enemy? Learn how mental habits like self-talk shape our beliefs and experiences – and how you can change your words and change your life.
Why do I have bad luck?
If you want the answer to “What are limiting beliefs?” look no further than your belief in luck. Successful people aren’t lucky – they are prepared. Tony often says, “The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.” Start generating your own luck today.
How to get over fear of rejection
Fear of rejection is common in romantic relationships, but it can also affect your career and your friendships. It stems from the limiting belief that you’re not strong enough to handle rejection – so you may as well not even bother. It’s time to stop living in fear and start taking risks.
Reasons nobody listens to you
If you sometimes feel invisible, you may hold limiting beliefs like “I’m just shy” or “I don’t have anything worthwhile to say anyway.” You don’t need to be the loudest or smartest person in the room to get people to listen to you. Just use these top strategies from Tony.
Don’t give up on your dreams
As Tony says, “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy.” And the number one thing negative, limiting beliefs destroy is dreams. Life gets in the way. We start making excuses. But don’t give up on your dreams yet – read this first.
Why does no one care about me?
Just as there is a cycle of success, there is also a cycle of negativity and failure – and it begins with thoughts like these. If you feel no one cares about you, you must examine your limiting beliefs around what you deserve in life and turn these negative thoughts into positive action.
Ready to achieve everything you want in life?
Don’t just identify your limiting beliefs – crush them, replace them and leave them in the dust with this free guide.