The Problem with Limited Beliefs

The Problem With Limiting Beliefs

In general, belief is an interpretation of life experience.

A limiting belief is a particular way of thinking based upon a faulty belief that a person acquires as a result of making an incorrect conclusion about an experience.

Two weeks ago, I began this discussion by defining limiting beliefs. Last week, I gave you a list of 100 common limiting beliefs. Today, we’re going to discuss why they’re a problem.

Limiting beliefs were never intended to be bad for us; they were intended to protect us. Psychologically, they were created as ‘defense mechanisms’ in order to protect us from dangerous or painful situations. For instance, when you experienced an emotionally overwhelming situation that caused you to feel pain, shame, or fear when you were a child, your mind looked for a way to protect you using emotional defenses such as denial, repression, and rationalization.

The Voices

Since the mind was on a developmental level of a young child, the way it protected you, was by creating an interpretation of the events happening as influenced by “the voices”.

I believe our childhood interpretations of events are shaped by the influence of the following voices:

• Voices of authority – These are your parents, teachers, leaders, religion, culture, etc.
• Voices of peers – These are your associates, friends, siblings, generational adaptations, etc.
• Voices within– The ideas you accept as true, your filter, your gut, your conscience, your internal wiring, etc.

Under the influence of these voices, your mind’s interpretation of emotionally overwhelming events and experiences is what creates limiting beliefs.  This was to help you cope and adapt to negative or emotionally charged experiences in the best possible way at that moment.

For some, those beliefs may have been life-saving. They told you how best to survive in a given situation and how best to cope and adapt to life.

How Limiting Beliefs Impact Our Lives

We all have limiting beliefs. It’s an epidemic. We hold them about ourselves, others, our relationships, and the world in general. They guide us, we follow their rules and we don’t question their validity. We let them tell us what we are able to accomplish, the rights and permissions we have, and what we are allowed to and not to do.

As you can see, the limiting beliefs that once protected you as a child can become a burden and inhibit your success. They did a good job of protecting you in the past. But, most were naive, misinformed, shrouded in inaccuracy, and simply wrong.

Limiting beliefs can show up as symptoms in your business and personal life such as anxieties, fears, obstacles, or challenges you can’t overcome no matter what you do. They can really get in the way of your joy, happiness, and overall quality of life.

A False Reality

Understanding how your beliefs influence your feelings is fundamental in your personal and professional development because they often disguise what’s real and unreal.

The limiting beliefs we hold in our minds present us with a false view of reality that only exists in our imagination. As a result, we make choices based on this reality with an expectation of getting specific outcomes.

However, our view of reality is flawed when it’s based upon limiting beliefs. In that state, we often miss essential elements to make informed decisions; and therefore no matter what decision we make, we fail to attain the outcomes we desire.

You Can Break Free

You don’t have to remain a victim of childhood limiting beliefs. You can change them and take control of your life. You don’t have to live the rest of your life bound by the logic and reasoning of a 12-year-old.

You can get rid of limiting beliefs and our upcoming workshop will show you how. Click below to sign up and get the tools you need to overcome limiting beliefs and take control of your life.