How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

This post discusses how to overcome limiting beliefs.

If we think a negative thought consistently enough, it begins to hinder our potential and ability to take action on our desired goals. 

This phenomenon is known as limiting beliefs and it’s something we all practice in some form be it consciously or unconsciously. 

Usually, it’s the latter.

In this post, I’ll dive into why we experience these defeatist views, how they affect our reality, and what we can do to overcome them. 

Why Do We Experience Limiting Beliefs?

Limiting beliefs begin at a very young age. As children, we float about the world in a dream-like or hypnotic state.

During this period of life, the brain operates at a lower thought frequency or consciousness called theta, where we mix reality with imagination.

Think about all those times you raced around the house pretending to be a superhero.

This was nature’s evolutionary way of helping us survive.

Back in prehistoric times when we were hunting and gathering food, children had to learn how to navigate the world and to do so quickly. 

Hence, we were essentially in a hypnotic state, being programmed by everything from our life experiences to our social interactions.

Once all the information was absorbed, we used it to help us navigate our environment. Then around age 7, we developed our own consciousness, referred to as the creative mind.

Therefore, everything that makes up your personality and belief system was impressed upon you in those early stages of life.

Another way of looking at it is to liken yourself to a computer and the information you’ve absorbed as the programming.

For example, if you don’t consider yourself a smart person, this is not the reality but simply a belief acquired as a child. 

The same goes for all your other thoughts. So, not everything you think is necessarily true nor should it be treated as such.

It may sound a bit scary but there’s no need to panic. If these things were programmed into our minds then they can be reprogrammed.

How to Identify Limiting Beliefs?

Identifying limiting beliefs takes a certain amount of conscious awareness.

You can practice this by writing down what you suspect your limiting beliefs are.

These can be deep-seated conceptions about your personality, religion, people, places, objects, and even superstitions.

For instance, you can have a belief that success only comes through hard work

Or…I’m terrible at math

Try to write down as many as you can.

You could also practice reflecting on past behaviors. Take note of your actions and emotions throughout the day.

When do you engage in negative self-talk or thinking?

Are there moments where you act out or lose control of your emotions?

These are all clues that help identify limiting beliefs.

Another technique you may use is to scribble down what you desire and why you haven’t achieved it.

There could be any number of reasons holding you back that you’ve never considered.

Such as I’m poor because people like me aren’t meant to be rich

After writing these beliefs in your journal, think back to where they came from.

Did you hear it from someone?

Was it derived from a past experience?

Once you’ve taken this step, you can work towards deleting it from your psyche.

How to Break Limiting Beliefs

To break free of the limiting beliefs you’ve absorbed over the years, you will have to shift your current thinking pattern.

This can be done primarily in one of two ways:

By forming a new habit in theta or by using repetition.

Using Theta to Break Limiting Beliefs

As mentioned previously, we spent much of our younger years in the brain wave frequency of theta.

This state allowed us to record everything around us, essentially shaping our current behavior.

So, if you’d like to change the belief system, it is important to simulate the brain frequency of your youth.

Fortunately, we pass through theta like clockwork whenever we are going to bed or waking up from sleep.

During theta, we feel drowsy and therefore are vulnerable to hypnosis.

This is a perfect time to try positive affirmations.

For them to be effective, they must be recited consistently enough that they become a part of your thinking.

Pretty soon, your mind will begin to adopt the affirmations as fact and your behavior will change.

Using Repetition to Break Limiting Beliefs

The second way to break your limiting beliefs is by repetition.

After age 6, we transition into a new brain wave, where we must repeat things over and over again to learn a new skill.

Think of mathematics, reading, driving, martial arts, dance, etc… any skill you’ve ever tried to obtain.

It required continuous and repetitive action until it became a learned behavior.

Therefore, instead of playing your affirmations during theta, try speaking them to yourself throughout the day, every day.

Do the same thing for any new attitude or demeanor you’d like to adopt.

Practice every day as often as you can until it becomes a part of you.

Change Your Limiting Beliefs to Change Your Future

Many of us are aware of the character flaws we have yet very few are willing to do something about it.

Regardless of how positive we intend to be, we ultimately are designed to fall back on our programming.

It’s for our protection.

If there is a vicious animal after us, we don’t have time to analyze the situation.

We may need to hide, run, or fight.

Our subconscious takes control so that we don’t have to make all these decisions.

Unfortunately, it’s also responsible for our unconsciously negative, self-sabotaging behavior as well.

Once you begin to alter your thoughts and change your demeanor you will see more opportunities come your way and then the sky will be the limit!

Special Thanks

Photo by Kaylee Brayne on Unsplash