Overview
Are you living the life you’ve always dreamed of? Have you set clear goals and achieved your desired outcomes? Or, do you sometimes feel like something is holding you back from reaching your full potential? When you strive to pursue your dreams, do negative thoughts like “you’re not good enough” or “you don’t deserve success” creep in? These thoughts are known as limiting beliefs, and they can hinder your ability to achieve greatness. It’s important to rewire your mind for success and overcome these beliefs to live the life you truly deserve.
The Purpose Of This Article.
Throughout this piece, we will delve into the topic of beliefs and limiting beliefs, and how they can either aid or hinder your journey to success. By the conclusion of this article, you will possess a greater comprehension of how your limiting beliefs can mold your reality. Furthermore, we will furnish practical pointers and tactics for recognizing and surmounting these beliefs, empowering you to realize your aspirations and fulfill the life you yearn for.
What Are Beliefs?
To begin, let’s take a moment to discuss what beliefs really are.
In simple terms, beliefs are mental constructs or convictions that you as an individual hold. Your beliefs can cover any topic. For the most part, they are about the world, yourself, others, and various aspects of your life. Your beliefs shape your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of reality. Your beliefs can be influenced by a variety of factors and personal experiences such as:
- your childhood perceptions,
- cultural and societal norms,
- your upbringing,
- your education,
- religious or spiritual teachings,
- and your exposure to information.
We all acquire our beliefs through a combination of factors. During early development, beliefs are often shaped by familial and cultural influences. Parents, caregivers, and communities play a significant role in instilling beliefs in a child. As you grow up, your beliefs may evolve through your personal experiences, your interactions with others & your exposure to diverse perspectives, and your education.
The Critical Facts About Beliefs
It is crucial to understand that beliefs are subjective!
They can vary widely among individuals and cultures. They can be different for people growing up in the same family. Beliefs are not inherently tied to objective truth(s). Beliefs can be based on personal interpretations, cultural traditions, inherited biases, or limited information. Some beliefs will align with empirical evidence and can be considered factual. At the same time, other beliefs you hold may lack substantial evidence or can be based on misconceptions, prejudices, or unsupported claims.
The Need for Critical Thinking and an Open Mind
Critical thinking and open-mindedness are essential when you are evaluating your beliefs. It is crucial to question and examine your beliefs openly. You must seek evidence and review different viewpoints when evaluating your beliefs. It will also help you if you realize that there is a possibility that even long-held beliefs are not true.
If you want to improve your life you must be willing to revise or abandon beliefs that are contradicted by reliable evidence. It is also important to let go of beliefs that no longer serve you or are holding you back in life. The pursuit of truth and understanding related to your beliefs requires ongoing reflection, skepticism, and a willingness to challenge and update our beliefs in light of new information or perspectives.
Your own “Thought Viruses” – Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained beliefs that you hold in your subconscious mind. These beliefs no longer serve you and in fact, may be holding you back. Unfortunately, limiting beliefs can be difficult to identify. As a result, they can be difficult to overcome. Many times limiting beliefs have been around for so long that you can think or assume that they are true. Furthermore, some of your deeply held beliefs can be running or ruining your life. Many times we accept these beliefs as if they are ingrained in stone – without challenge.
Many core beliefs can stem from your early childhood experiences, before age 7. They also come from societal conditioning, including past failures and rejections. At times these core beliefs can take on an almost mythical proportion. Unfortunately, they can have much greater control over your life than you realize.
The good news is that with the right mindset and techniques, you can rewire your mind for success and overcome these self-imposed limitations.
Understanding Limiting Beliefs.
Limiting beliefs are simply beliefs that hold you back from achieving your full potential. They are beliefs that you have and you may not even be aware of them. They will limit your ability to succeed and prevent you from reaching your goals. You took on many of your core beliefs before age 7, when you’re brain was in a state of constant “hypnosis.” During this time, you were interpreting and making sense of the world from the perspective of a young child. As such, your “young you” made decisions about the world in a nanosecond, based on your child-based interpretation of the events around you. Many times these core beliefs are simply wrong or have become outdated.
The Nature of Limiting Beliefs About Your World
You go through your life driven by your beliefs. You see the world and reality based on the filter of your beliefs. Of the infinite ways of looking at the world, your beliefs limit the possibilities for the reality that shows up. When you are confronted with different versions of reality, your own beliefs can keep you in a narrow way of seeing the world.
Once installed your beliefs can support your life success or keep you stuck. Hopefully, by now you are starting to understand that your beliefs are the result of random acts, based on your own life experiences. If you grew up in another country, or even on another planet, do you think you would see the world the same way? Do you think you see the world the same as Bill Gates or Elon Musk? – why not?
You get your beliefs from your interpretations of the world, the influence of your caregivers and other significant people in your life, and as a result of your life experiences.
Early Beliefs and Survival
A key issue to understand is that many of these beliefs got encoded in your subconscious mind as part of your survival process. Many of your early beliefs were prioritized as being key to your survival. As such, they can have a profound effect on your life.
When you take in sensory information, your subconscious mind searches for threats FIRST. So it seeks out what you encoded as a threat (as a child) and then goes out to prove those beliefs are true.
Your hidden beliefs are sometimes known as your “shadow self” or shadow beliefs as they linger in the shadows of your mind.
Limiting “Core Beliefs” You picked Up Before Age 7
By now you will know that your limiting beliefs hold you back in Life. They can make it difficult for you to change your life. Limiting beliefs are negative and restrictive ways of looking at the world. If you are stuck in life, your thoughts are likely full of common limiting beliefs.
Many of your limiting beliefs were formed before you were seven years old. During your early years, your brain has not developed fully. As a result, you are making sense of what is going on around you, from the perception of a child. During this time, you are highly impressionable and are more likely to adopt the beliefs of those around you or based on how you perceive you are being treated.
Additionally, young children tend to be narcissistic. Unconsciously, they believe what occurs around them is because of them. For example, if your parents are happy, it is your fault. Of course, the reverse is also true; if your parents are upset, then it is also your fault.
For example, if you grew up in a household where money was scarce, you may have adopted the belief that money is hard to come by. As a result, you may have a belief that, you don’t deserve to be wealthy, and that it is difficult to be financially successful. Another example would be if you were crying and no one heard you, (for whatever reason). In a nanosecond, you could make a decision that you are unlovable or that nobody loves you. You will find that your limiting beliefs stem from past experiences where you were open. These experiences left their mark on the neural pathways in your brain.
You can unknowingly carry these beliefs with you for the rest of your life. A simple line of human-computer code can sabotage your success in life. To create a new life you must create new beliefs that are highly effective in you reaching your goals.
How your Subconscious Mind tries to Prove Your Beliefs Are True
In your early years, your subconscious mind searches for threats to your survival. It can misinterpret life’s events and install beliefs about what it perceives as a threat. These limiting beliefs can be coded into your unconscious belief system around perceived survival issue(s).
As such, your subconscious mind is going to be continually taking action to prove these beliefs are true. For example, if you believe that you are unlovable or you don’t deserve wealth, your subconscious mind will be working to prove these beliefs are accurate. Your subconscious mind has processes to confirm perceived threats. They are as follows:
Confirmation Bias and The R.A.S.
In the realm of human cognition, your mind is not always objective and impartial. You will often find yourself clinging to beliefs that align with your existing views or the common views of the world around you. At the same time, you can dismiss or ignore contradictory information to your beliefs, no matter how valid. This phenomenon is known as “confirmation bias.” It is important to understand that confirmation bias influences your perception and decision-making processes.
In parallel, your brain possesses a filtering mechanism called the “Reticular Activating System” (RAS). The RAS selectively processes incoming information and determines what captures your attention.
Understanding the interplay between confirmation bias and the role of the RAS provides insights into how your beliefs are formed, reinforced, and sometimes distorted. As this is such an important point, let’s take a minute to explore the nature of confirmation bias and delve into the crucial role played by the RAS in shaping your cognitive processes in your life experience.
Confirmation Bias
Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency for you to selectively seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms your preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. At the same time, you will disregard or downplay contradictory evidence. It is a cognitive bias that can influence your perception and decision-making processes.
When confirmation bias is at play, you actively seek out information that aligns with your beliefs. In the process, you will ignore or dismiss information that challenges those beliefs. Additionally, your mind will interpret ambiguous information in a way that supports your existing views. This bias can occur in any area of your life for your holding core beliefs. This will include personal beliefs, political ideologies, and even scientific research.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
The role of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) is closely related to confirmation bias. The RAS is a part of the brain responsible for filtering and processing incoming information. It determines what deserves your attention and what can be ignored. It acts as a gatekeeper, allowing certain stimuli to enter our conscious awareness while filtering out others.
The RAS operates based on your existing beliefs, values, and goals. It seeks to validate and reinforce your established mental models by selectively attending to information that aligns with what you already believe to be true. This filtering process can contribute to confirmation bias by amplifying your exposure to confirming evidence. At the same time, it is diminishing your awareness of contradictory or disconfirming information.
Together, confirmation bias and the role of the RAS create a cognitive mechanism that can reinforce existing beliefs and hinder your ability to consider alternative perspectives. In other words, these internal processes can keep you stuck.
By understanding these biases, you can become more aware of your tendency to seek confirmation and actively challenge your own beliefs.
If you want a better life, start engaging in critical thinking and actively seeking diverse viewpoints. Next, be open to revising/updating your beliefs in the face of new evidence. These strategies can help you mitigate the effects of confirmation bias. Additionally, you will be able to foster a more balanced and objective approach to understanding the world around you.
Effects of Limiting Beliefs
By now you understand that your beliefs can have a significant impact on your lives. They can help you many times to find value in your life. At the same time, they can hold you back from achieving your goals. Limiting beliefs can restrict your potential and prevent you from living the life you want. Limiting beliefs can also affect your self-esteem and self-image. This can result in you feeling like you are unworthy, inadequate, or that you don’t deserve what life has to offer.
It is important to recognize and challenge your limiting beliefs if you want to overcome them. By doing so, you can get out of the weight of these beliefs. You can rewire your mind for success and achieve your full potential. Remember that your limiting beliefs are not reality! They are simply something you once believed to be true, whether it was or not. Know that you have the power to change them and undo their life-limiting effects.
Examples of Limiting Beliefs and Their Impact on Your Personal and Professional Life
Limiting beliefs can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life. They can hold you back from reaching your full potential and achieving your goals. Here are some areas where limiting beliefs can have a significant effect:
Career Growth
Limiting beliefs can be particularly detrimental to your career growth and/or financial success. If you believe that you’re not good enough or that you don’t have the necessary skills to succeed, you may be less likely to take on new challenges or pursue new opportunities. You can also have beliefs that “you don’t deserve,” “you’re not smart enough,” “not good enough” etc. This can limit your career growth and prevent you from reaching your full potential.
Personal Relationships
Limiting beliefs can also impact your relationships. If you believe that you are not worthy of love or that you’re incapable of forming meaningful connections with others, you may struggle to build and maintain healthy relationships. There are many negative beliefs you can hold about relationships and yourself in relationships that can hold you back and keep you separate. Remember that confirmation bias and the RAS will go out to prove that these beliefs are true
Advantages of Overcoming Your Limiting Beliefs
By overcoming your limiting beliefs, you can unlock new opportunities. You will be able to successfully take on new challenges that can help you grow and advance in your career. You may be more likely to take on new projects, pursue promotions, or even switch careers entirely. By believing in yourself and your abilities, you can achieve greater success in your professional life. By overcoming your limiting beliefs, you can also form stronger and more fulfilling relationships. You will also become more confident in yourself. This will aid your ability to connect with others, which can lead to deeper friendships and more meaningful romantic relationships.
Making lasting change
Step 1 – Give Yourself a Compelling “Why”
The best place to start to change your beliefs is to create a compelling “why!” Why do yo want to do what you are working at? The more compelling you can make your Why, the greater influence you will have on your subconscious mind.
Start by asking yourself why you want to change! Then create a compelling statement with the reasons why you want to make the change.
Why statements are motivational and are generally based on two main options: a) move away from pain or b) move towards pleasure. It is always better to focus on what you want and not on what you don’t want. This way you are always telling your subconscious mind what you want.
The problem with “Move Away From Pain “why” statements is that you have to focus on what you don’t want.
You are far better to create a why statement based that focuses on what it is you want to create. For example “I want a phenomenal relationship because I want love in my life” versus “I want a phenomenal relationship because I don’t want to be alone anymore.” In the latter example, you have to focus on being alone. This is what your subconscious mind will hear and think you want to create.
Remember to make your why statement compelling and about what you want to create. IF you can make the why statement really compelling for you, it will give you motivation to make it happen.
For more clarity on WHY, Check out this article: 5 Reasons “Why” Is Such A Powerful Question” HERE
Step 2 – Identifying Limiting Beliefs
To overcome limiting beliefs, you must first seek out and identify what needs you’re holding. This can be a difficult task, as limiting beliefs are often deeply ingrained in your subconscious mind. Additionally, you are also quite accustomed to these beliefs and have accepted them as being true for likely a long time. The good news is that with a little self-examination and reflection on past experiences, you can uncover the beliefs that are holding you back.
Use Self-Examination
Self-Talk
The first step in identifying limiting beliefs is to examine your self-talk and what you’re inner voice is saying to you. What do you tell yourself daily? Are your thoughts mainly positive or negative? Do you often find yourself making excuses or talking yourself out of trying new things? Do you find yourself procrastinating a lot? Think about what triggers you. Where do your thoughts go once you find yourself triggered? Ask yourself-when was the first time I felt this way? Soon you will understand your “upsets” or personal charges are a doorway to your hidden beliefs.
For a very simple and powerful process check out “Choose Again”. They have a very simple six-step reframe for helping you to find and change core beliefs. You can find them HERE
Journaling
Take some time to journal your thoughts and feelings. Write down any negative self-talk you catch yourself engaging in. This can help you identify patterns in your thinking. This will help you to identify any limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. You can also ask yourself if these beliefs are really or still true.
Reviewing Past Experiences
Another way to identify limiting beliefs is to reflect on your past experiences. Think about times when you have failed or been rejected. What thoughts and feelings did you have at that time? Did you believe that you weren’t good enough or that success was impossible? Did you believe that what happened was inevitable? What stopped you from standing up for yourself? Did you find yourself procrastinating? What thoughts were holding you stuck?
Identifying these past experiences and the beliefs associated with them can help you understand why you may be holding yourself back. Seek out his identify any limiting beliefs you might be holding. Once you have identified these limiting beliefs, you can start to reframe them and replace them with more positive, empowering beliefs.
Remember, identifying limiting beliefs is just the first step in overcoming them. With awareness and a willingness to change, you can start to rewire your mind for success.
Step 3 Changing your Thinking and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
To create a new life you are going to have to overcome your limiting beliefs. Remember your limiting beliefs can be about yourself, others, or the world around you. They can be about just about anything. Remember your subconscious mind was trying to keep you safe and it was identifying what it perceived as a threat to your survival. From an adult perspective, many of your core beliefs may not make any sense, such as I’m unlovable, I don’t deserve wealth, I don’t deserve a good relationship, etc.
To overcome these beliefs, you need to rewire your mind for success. Here are some ways to do that:
Cognitive Restructuring
Cognitive restructuring is a technique that helps you change your negative thought patterns. The process of cognitive restructuring focuses on identifying the negative thoughts that are holding you back and replacing them with positive ones. For example, if you believe that you are not good enough to succeed, you can replace that thought with a positive one like “I am capable of achieving my goals.” This technique can help you overcome self-sabotage and develop a more positive mindset.
Be conscious of any thoughts that come up after you make the new statement as there could be more beliefs as part of this thinking process. Also, look for any other thoughts that might percolate to the surface as you start to change your core beliefs. Many times beliefs can have supporting beliefs.
Mindset Shift
A mindset shift is a change in the way you think about yourself and the world around you. It involves shifting from a negative mindset to a positive one. This can be done by focusing on your strengths and achievements, instead of your weaknesses and failures. You can also practice gratitude and mindfulness to develop a more positive outlook on life.
Check out our post “The Ultimate Guide to Letting Go – How-to-Embrace Change HERE
Step 4 Rewire your Brain – making the New beliefs
Creating Empowering Beliefs
To overcome limiting beliefs, it’s important to create empowering beliefs that will help you reach your full potential. Empowering beliefs are positive, self-affirming statements that you can use to replace negative self-talk. These beliefs should be focused on your strengths and abilities and should help you build confidence and self-worth. They have to be positive statements.
When creating a new belief, there are several components to consider that can help make it positive, focused on what you want, expansive, and effective. Here are the key components and their descriptions:
Positivity: Ensure that your new belief is framed positively. Rather than focusing on what you don’t want, emphasize what you do want. This helps shift your mindset towards a more constructive and optimistic perspective.
Clarity: Make sure your new belief is clear and specific. Clearly define what you want to believe and articulate it concisely. This clarity will help you understand and internalize the belief more effectively.
Self-Affirmation: Include elements of self-affirmation in your new belief. Use empowering language that reinforces your confidence and self-worth. By affirming your abilities and positive qualities, you strengthen your belief in your capacity to achieve your desired outcome.
Expansion: Design your new belief to be expansive and open-ended. Avoid limiting or restrictive language that might hinder your growth or potential. Instead, focus on beliefs that encourage exploration, learning, and continuous improvement.
Alignment with Your Values: Ensure that your new belief aligns with your core values and principles. When your beliefs are in harmony with your values, they become more meaningful and provide a strong foundation for your actions and decision-making.
Emotional Resonance: Craft your new belief in a way that resonates with your emotions. Connect with the underlying feelings associated with the belief. By evoking positive emotions, such as joy, excitement, or fulfillment, you strengthen your emotional connection to the belief and reinforce its impact on your mindset.
Repetition and Reinforcement: Regularly reinforce your new belief through repetition. Repeat it to yourself, write it down, and visualize it in your mind. By consistently reminding yourself of the belief, you strengthen its presence in your subconscious mind and increase its influence over your thoughts and behaviors.
Remember, creating and installing a new belief can take time, depending on how you work at installing a new belief. It’s important to make a consistent effort until you experience the belief taking hold in your subconscious mind. It is essential to practice these components regularly to internalize the belief and integrate it into your mindset effectively.
Belief Change Summary
To create empowering beliefs, start identifying the negative beliefs that are holding you back. Then, write down positive statements based on the criteria above that counteract those negative beliefs. For example, if you have a negative belief that you’re not good enough, you might write an empowering belief like “I am capable and deserving of success.”
It’s important to repeat these empowering beliefs to yourself regularly until they become ingrained in your mind. You can also try additional processes like hypnosis, stepping into your future you, and installing new beliefs just before you go to sleep. You can also write them down and post them where you’ll see them often, like on your bathroom mirror or computer monitor.
Step 5 Living the New Belief
Once you have identified your limiting beliefs and replaced them with positive ones, you need to start living the new belief. This means taking action and making changes in your life. For example, if you believe that you are capable of achieving your goals, you need to start taking steps toward them. This can involve learning new skills, networking with others, and taking risks. By living the new belief, you can overcome your limiting beliefs and achieve success.
Empowering the Mind
Harnessing your positive “Self-Belief”
Positive self-belief is a crucial component of overcoming limiting beliefs and reaching your full potential. Without self-belief, it can be difficult to take risks and pursue your goals.
To harness a positive self-belief, start by acknowledging your strengths and accomplishments. Make a list of your achievements, big and small, and remind yourself of them regularly. This will help build your confidence and self-worth.
It’s also important to surround yourself with people who support and encourage you. Seek out friends, family members, or mentors who believe in you and your abilities. Their positive feedback can help reinforce your self-belief and motivate you to keep pushing forward.
Finally, remember that self-belief is something that can be developed over time. With practice and persistence, you can train your mind to believe in yourself and your abilities.
Role of Visualization and Healing
Power of Visualization
The process of visualization is a powerful tool that can help you overcome limiting beliefs and rewire your mind for success. By visualizing yourself achieving your goals and living the life you want, you can create a clear mental image of what you want to achieve. This mental image can help you stay focused and motivated, and can also help you overcome any doubts or fears that may be holding you back.
To use visualization effectively, it is important to be specific about what you want to achieve. Visualize yourself in detail, imagining the sights, sounds, and feelings associated with your success. You can also use visualization to practice new behaviors or skills, helping you to build confidence and overcome any self-doubt.
Stepping into “Future You”
A great way to overcome your limiting beliefs is to visualize yourself stepping into the future when these beliefs no longer exist. Start by visualizing yourself as the person you want to be. This involves stepping into the future and living the new belief. For example, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to start thinking and acting like one.
This means setting goals, taking risks, and learning from failures. Then step into say a year in the future where you are a successful entrepreneur and fully experience what it feels like. Fully experience the new you with the new beliefs in as much detail as you can. Observe how has your thinking changed and how your life has changed. What are your new thoughts? By stepping into the future, you experience what it’s like not having your old limited beliefs run your life. This process will help you to overcome your limiting beliefs and achieve your goals.
Updating your Subconscious Mind
be now you know that your limiting beliefs are rooted in your subconscious mind, which can be challenging to access and change. However, by using techniques such as visualization, meditation, and hypnosis, you can begin to update your subconscious mind and overcome these limiting beliefs.
One effective technique for updating the subconscious mind is to use affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself, helping to reprogram your subconscious mind with new, positive beliefs. You can use affirmations to counteract negative self-talk and replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones. This can be effective if you use it when you step into the “Future you.”
Another technique for updating the subconscious mind is to work with a therapist or coach. A trained professional can help you identify and overcome any limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. A professional can provide guidance and support as you work to rewire your mind for success.
In conclusion, visualization and healing are powerful tools that can help you overcome limiting beliefs and achieve your goals. By using these techniques to reprogram your subconscious mind and create a clear mental image of what you want to achieve, you can overcome self-doubt and achieve success in all areas of your life.
Practical Advice from Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy, a renowned personal development expert, emphasizes the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs to achieve success. He believes that our beliefs shape our reality and that by changing our beliefs, we can change our lives.
Tracy suggests that we identify our limiting beliefs and challenge them by asking ourselves questions such as “Is this belief true?” and “What evidence do I have to support this belief?”
By doing so, we can begin to rewire our minds and overcome our limiting beliefs, leading to greater success and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives.
Closing Thoughts
Recognizing and overcoming limiting beliefs is a transformative journey. It can significantly influence both your personal and professional lives. Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thought patterns or beliefs that hold you back from reaching your full potential. They often stem from various sources, such as early childhood, societal conditioning, past experiences, or negative influences.
To change these limiting beliefs, the first step is creating a big “why” as to why you want to make changes. Next, you need to focus on raising your self-awareness. You must identify and acknowledge beliefs that are restricting your growth and success. This requires introspection and a willingness to challenge our long-held assumptions about ourselves and the world around us.
Next, it is extremely helpful to understand the origins of these beliefs. Reflecting on your past experiences, childhood upbringing, and external influences can help you to gain insights into why you developed these limiting beliefs in the first place. By understanding the root causes, you can begin to dismantle their power over you. Unwinding your childhood experience can also help you to let go of other beliefs that are holding you back.
Once you have identified and understood your limiting beliefs, the process of rewiring and updating your mind begins. This involves replacing negative, self-defeating thoughts with positive and empowering ones.
Affirmations, visualization techniques, and cognitive reframing can help reshape your thought patterns and establish new, empowering beliefs.
Additionally, seeking support from others is invaluable in overcoming your limiting beliefs. Making a habit of surrounding yourself with a supportive network of like-minded individuals, mentors, or coaches. This can provide you with guidance, encouragement, and accountability throughout our transformational journey.
Changing limiting beliefs can require consistent effort and practice. You can also try processes like hypnosis that can have a more rapid effect.
To unlock your full potential and achieve success in all aspects of your life, it’s crucial to uncover and replace any outdated beliefs you may have. Cultivating patience, self-compassion, and a growth mindset will help you do just that. As you let go of limiting beliefs, you’ll open yourself up to new opportunities and a wider perspective, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment. By rewiring your mind, you’ll gain the power to achieve your goals and reach your full potential.