How To Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs & Achieve Your Dream Life

I recently came across an online post from a young college student. This person had received a low IQ score on a test. This led them to question achieving any success in life.

They didn’t feel on par with their peers and the standards expected. They didn’t think they could hold a job or have what it takes to survive in this world. They didn’t believe they could achieve their dream profession. Their beliefs were being reinforced by their family and friends.

There was so much of I can’t do this, or I can’t do that in the post. As I continued to read it, my heart sank more and more. They had so many limiting beliefs about themselves that were holding them back.

I couldn’t help but think, If only they can change the way they think about themselves. If only they can allow themselves to see what they are capable of.

This made me think about the limiting beliefs we each have and how they hold us back from being our best.

Many beliefs we have are deep-rooted back to childhood. They are our inner dialogue about what we are and aren’t capable of.

Some of our beliefs may be true. For instance, I cannot fly a plane because I have terrible vision. But other beliefs are based on who we were and what we experienced then in life.

Most of the time we carry on with our lives without questioning these beliefs. Living our lives in our perfectly crafted boxes. Coloring inside the lines of the boundaries defined by us or others.

No one is exempt from these limiting beliefs. The people who achieve great heights are the ones who consciously spotted them. They took time to challenge them. They crafted a process to overcome them.

In this post, I will be discussing examples of what limiting beliefs look like. I will share a few strategies on how to overcome them based on my own experiences.

Identifying The Beliefs That Hold You Back

Identifying limiting beliefs — Photo by **Andrea Piacquadio** from **Pexels**

Over the years I created my own set of beliefs that were limiting me from reaching my full potential. I will list some of them here, so it can help you identify your own:

1. I Am Not Athletic

Growing up I didn’t do any sports. I was raised in an environment in India where academics meant everything. The high school walls weren’t covered with kids who were quarterbacks and basketball stars. They were instead covered with pictures of kids who scored the most in math, etc in their school. Kids who ranked first, second, you get the picture.

There wasn’t enough motivation to get into any sport as there was to do good academically. As a result of this lack of exposure to sports, I formed this deep-rooted belief that I am not athletic.

When I discovered running in my twenties and completed my first half-marathon, I was the most surprised one. My body continues to surprise me with what it’s capable of no matter what I throw at it. Be it cross-fit or boxing, breaking every childhood belief I had about myself.

2. I Am Not So Good At Finances

When you are married you have the luxury of relying on your partner. This can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to your limiting beliefs. If you aren’t used to doing something, your mind has a way of telling you that it isn’t your strength.

Mine for the longest time was telling me that I wasn’t good at finances. I handed over the responsibility to my spouse while I was busy managing a career and adjusting to motherhood.

Next thing you know you are in your late 30’s and aren’t familiar with something as crucial as managing your finances. I had to tell myself if I can manage million-dollar budgets at work I can figure out personal finance/ investments. Only a matter of time before I master it.

3. I Am Not A Creative Person

I chose math in school which led to engineering. It was all about logic from then on. As a result, I told myself that creativity isn’t my thing. I am not an artist or a musician, that just isn’t me.

My choice of a lucrative profession suppressed my love for languages. I realized much later in life that I like to write. I forgot how much I enjoyed languages in school.

I bring this up because the moment I realized I can create/write my brain took all the walls down. My mind started to think of new things to write. It began to notice patterns and correlations between various topics. It was pure magic to witness what happens when you let yourself believe.

How to Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs

Photo by Michael Rosner-Hyman on Unsplash

Every time I come across something I feel is a false/limiting belief, I use a few strategies to overcome them:

1. Add ‘Yet’ or ‘For Now’ At The End

When you catch yourself saying something, add a yet or for now at the end of it. In a recent conversation, my son told me I should write a fiction novel. I caught myself saying ‘Fiction is difficult’. I decided to change it in my head to ‘Fiction is difficult for now’. This way you don’t rule out the possibility entirely.

2. Challenge Your Belief

A lot of beliefs are formed by not just what we believe but also what others have been telling us. They may think they have your best interest, but sometimes it just doesn’t serve your growth.

Next time you hear someone say, you are not good at something, challenge it. Maybe they have only seen one side of you to feel that way. Make it a personal mission to take it on as a new challenge.

‘You are not a team player, you don’t voice your opinion enough, etc’? Great, begin your journey on that path.

3. Make A List Of Your Limiting Beliefs

Visual reference is great for tracking progress. Make a list of what you think is limiting you and tackle it one by one. These can be something small or something that requires long-term planning.

4. Seek The Experts

Sometimes our beliefs go back many years, and we may have lived most of our adult life believing it. In such cases, it helps to consult experts who can help guide us in this journey.

I find it motivating when you have someone holding you accountable for your progress. Whether it is a therapist or a life coach.

5. Draw Analogies

Life is full of analogies. If we can make a connection between things we start to notice patterns in everything we do and experience. When it comes to beliefs I have often relied on the power of analogy, and it works.

When you are learning something new, compare what you mastered before with what you are learning now and use what worked.

These analogies can be from different things. If you can teach your body to do pull-ups, you can teach yourself marketing. Conquering unknown territories is the key here.

Pay attention to your victories and draw inspiration from these into whatever belief you are trying to tackle next.

We have a choice in how we want to live our lives. We can break the age-old beliefs and explore a whole new us.

I hope you begin to notice the limiting beliefs both old and new. I hope you start challenging them. I am rooting for you to eliminate all these self-doubts and achieve the dream life you deserve.

Do you have a false belief that you have identified or overcame? Would love to hear your thoughts.