Have you ever heard a little voice in the back of your mind tell you that you can’t do something?
All of us have experienced this at some point. We all have that inner critic—the one who says we’re "too much" or "not enough." Perhaps you first heard it from a parent, a teacher, or your peers when you were young, and the criticism stuck.
Our limiting beliefs are the negative thoughts we hear over and over again when that little voice convinces us to shrink ourselves, to play it safe, to quit. It can feel like these beliefs control your present and determine your future.
But restricting beliefs are just that: beliefs. They’re not set in stone. They’re only as powerful as we allow them to be.
Consider some examples of how limiting beliefs might be holding you back and how you can move forward.
Socializing
Perhaps you struggle to make new friends because you worry that you can’t strike up an interesting conversation. Or maybe you stop yourself from approaching people who you’re attracted to, telling yourself there’s no way they would be interested. But these are only your limiting beliefs talking.
In order to overcome the confines of those beliefs, start with baby steps. Try to attend one social event every week, and look for other people who might seem a little shy.
Advocating at Work
Limiting beliefs can affect your professional success. You might hesitate to advocate for yourself at work—networking with others in your field or talking to your boss about getting promoted and receiving a raise.
To boost your confidence and kick that belief, make a list of your workplace accomplishments, no matter how small. Look at how far you’ve come. Next, think about how you can replicate those accomplishments in the future. You’ve probably succeeded at more than you think!
Trying New Things
When you have the opportunity to try something new, your limiting beliefs can rear their ugly heads. Your fear of looking silly or doing something embarrassing might discourage you from experimenting with a new hobby or going out of your comfort zone.
The solution? Enlist a friend or family member to join you. Giving it a shot with another beginner by your side will help you relax and remind you that it’s okay to make mistakes.
Going on Excursions
Do you ever consider going to a concert by yourself, traveling solo, or doing something else important on your own? Your limiting beliefs might have you convinced that you can’t handle it by yourself or that everyone else there will eye you strangely if you’re on your own.
Sometimes, the best thing to do in this scenario is to take the plunge, just once, and see how you fare on your own. Chances are, you’ll surprise yourself, and you’ll feel more confident about doing it again in the future.
Organizing Your Life
Many of us struggle with the feeling that other people “have it all together,” and that we’ll never reach that point. You may have limiting beliefs around money, getting organized, or tackling other responsibilities.
It’s important to remember that everyone feels like their lives get a bit messy sometimes, and despite what you may see on social media, no one truly “has it all.” Taking small steps to feel more confident in these areas, like making a basic budget, deep cleaning your apartment over the weekend, and writing down your responsibilities in a planner will all help you stay on track.
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Do you feel like your limiting beliefs are holding you back? Make efforts to become conscious of your inner critic and recognize that it does not belong to you. Understand that it is something learned and not who you really are. Only then can you begin living more authentically.
If you would like help with breaking free from your limiting beliefs and ousting your inner critic, please contact me. Together, we can figure out where these restricting beliefs came from and how you can work through them.
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