Our limiting beliefs can drastically change our lives. So, it is safe to say that beliefs are the pillar of personal and business development.
What are limiting beliefs?
"It's what we think about ourselves has an enormous influence on how we function"
It is something we believe is true, but it actually is just a subjective truth. We can compare beliefs to colourful lenses. Depending on what you believe in, the lenses we look through are going to show us a set image of the situation.
Monika’s story shows us how powerful beliefs are. She was a shy and introverted child, which led her to adopt some limiting beliefs, such as “I’m worthless” or “I have no special talents”. If you don’t believe in yourself and there is a challenge approaching, the debilitating belief tells you that you’re not going to succeed, so there is no point in starting at all. But what if your beliefs were different?
For example, I am capable of achieving what I want, and if I need to I can learn a new thing! – in this case, the challenge is most definitely achievable. We can distinguish between limiting and supportive beliefs. Take some time to think about your beliefs’ system. Check which are limiting you, and which are actually good for you.
Where do limiting beliefs come from?
"Beliefs are not always ours. Repete es mater studione. Sometimes our beliefs are installed by our environment"
We are born as a tabula rasa. By growing up in a certain culture and environment, we begin to fill with both good things and bad ones. Our beliefs develop until the age of 8, and we accept them as our own because we do not have our perception of life yet, and we are not aware that we can disagree with them. What is imprinted on us by parents and teachers (often unconsciously) becomes our truth as well as theirs, until we realize that some beliefs limit us, and we should work through them.
Our limiting beliefs can seriously influence our future: what kind of job we have, what friends, what family. It also influences how we think about ourselves – do we think we are worthy of success.
"This is why, we as adults, we should imprint strong positive beliefs in our children so that they can be certain of their abilities in their adult life"
Top 5 limiting beliefs
It is worth remembering that our beliefs are personal and depend on our circumstances, but some of them are extremely common, and we should mention them here.
1. I’m not smart/good enough
- when we talk to ourselves in this way, our brain is searching for evidence to support this theory. This, in turn, influence our interpretation of the world around us, if we take action or not, if something is going to be easy or difficult, or if we are going to have a hard time.
2. I am too old/young
- It’s a limiting belief because there is nothing you can do about your age. You need to start thinking about how to change that belief. Think, why is this belief so limiting? Who decides about a minimum or maximum age for something? Everything is in your head.
3. I am not an expert
- I do not have enough experience. I need to be fully prepared to open a new business up or to get a promotion. Remember – you will never be 100% ready for what is going to happen. Act before you are ready! Start from less than ideal action and learn from inevitable mistakes.
4. I do not have what it takes, and I need it before I start
- With this belief, you are victimizing yourself, and this is just an excuse to do nothing. It takes away your decisiveness, so just start!
5. I need to work hard to achieve something
- On one hand, we want to achieve something but on the other hard work gives us chills. It is a conflict of emotions that kills our creativity and can reduce our motivation to nothing.
Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is a way of thinking about personal development and planning our success. American psychologist professor Carol Dweck has proven, thanks to her research, that there is one critical belief that can change our life. Remember:
IF like those with the growth mindset, you believe you can develop yourself, then you’re open to accurate information about your current abilities, even if it’s unflattering. What’s more, if you’re oriented toward learning, as they are, you need accurate information about your current abilities to learn effectively.
This one short paragraph gives us many opportunities and shows us that we are not limited to what we have been given, but that we are responsible for our lives and personal development. If you can learn something new, why wouldn’t you achieve success?
"This is why, we as adults, we should imprint strong positive beliefs in our children so that they can be certain of their abilities in their adult life"
Be conscious about what you say to yourself in your head. What questions do you ask yourself? Our brain is like Google, whatever questions you ask, you will get an answer. Don’t ask yourself why this didn’t work, but ask how to make it work instead?
"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny"
