In a previous blog, ‘Opening Yourself Up To More‘ I wrote about the relevance of reflection, contemplation and new experiences to ensure you are moving through your life with purpose.
One of the points I made was how limiting beliefs stop us from expanding our human experience and so limit our ability to reach our full potential.
Examples of a limiting belief are:
I cannot sing (the example I used in the blog)
I cannot increase my fees
I cannot pursue my dream practice because I don’t know what I would do if I fail
I cannot handle difficult situations
I am not enough
If Louise Hay is correct when she said “If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you”, then it’s important to consider what your personal beliefs are and how they are directing your life.
Limiting beliefs are a large blocker because they stop you from taking action to become who you truly want to be.
Discovering Your Beliefs
Think of a dissatisfying situation in your life. It may be an unhappy relationship, an unachieved goal or any other area of your life you feel stuck in.
Once you have a situation in mind, let’s say an under-performing staff member, then ‘fill in the blank’…
“I cannot discuss the drop in my staff member’s performance because _______________________.”
The reason you identify after the word ‘because’ can uncover any limiting beliefs that are preventing you from striving forward.
To use the example, the blank may be ‘I believe I do not handle confrontation well’. This identifies your avoidance of confrontation as the driver of your behaviour.
Shifting Your Beliefs
- Once you have determined what your limiting belief is, write it down.
- Then write down all the negative ways you can think of how this limiting belief currently impacts your life.
- Now, project yourself forward three or four years. Write down how continuing this belief will cost you the future you desire.
- Understand that a belief is neither a fact nor a truth. You have the power to overwrite that belief with a new one. Replace your limiting belief with an empowering belief and write it down. For example, “I am responsible for the life I create” or “I embrace challenges because it leads me to a better life”. Replay your empowered belief over and again. Visualise yourself feeling enormous pleasure when repeating your empowered belief.
Associating pain with your old limiting belief and deep pleasure with your new empowering belief provides the motivation and persistence to do what is needed to shift your limiting belief.
There are a number of other ways to successfully shift your limiting beliefs, such as:
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
- Lefkoe Method
- Visualisation
- NLP Swish Technique
The key is to be aware that this process of changing beliefs is available to you, and I urge you to try different techniques until you find the one/s that work for you.
I have found that my growth and development has been much assisted by removing limiting beliefs. I am confident you will find a similar beneficial result if you take action.
