What Beliefs Are Holding You Back?
I wonder… how many people left this life with unfulfilled dreams? When we are children, it seems like we dream big, I mean REALLY big. Then something happens, life happens I suppose. We grow up, get busy with this and that, and think to ourselves, “I’ll get to that dream someday.” How often does that “someday” never arrive?
Here I am in my early fifties and finding myself truly driven to do some of the things I have always wanted to do, and planned to get to “someday.” This includes learning to speak fluent Spanish, acting in community theater at least once, and doing a job where I can work from anywhere in the world as long as I have an internet connection. I am happy to say that I am working on two out of the three. (Community theater, you’re next!)
I believe that there is primarily one barrier that consistently holds people back from realizing those dreams - self-limiting beliefs. Most of us have them, some more than others. You know, that voice in our head that tells us all kinds of negative and discouraging things. But--this is the good part--YOU are in charge of that voice and have the power to change the negative and discouraging messages to positive and encouraging words.
If one were to write down all of the negative thoughts and self- limiting beliefs, I guarantee you would find that most, if not all, of them are false: simply fears and illusions that are standing in the way of you achieving greatness. Now greatness doesn’t necessarily need to mean something gigantic (although gigantic is good, too), it can mean that you get that part in the community theater performance and have a great time learning a new skill, making new friends, and successfully performing in front of a crowd.
How can you remove those self-limiting beliefs? Well, here are just a few things you can try.
Challenge that inner critic. Ask yourself, “Is this true? Is this really true?”
Ask yourself, “If I did _____, what is the worst thing that could possibly happen?”
Ask yourself, “If I did _____, what is the best thing that could possibly happen?”
Catch that negative thought, challenge it, and then replace it with a positive thought.
Tell yourself, “Fear is nothing more than False Expectations Appearing Real, F.E.A.R.”
Defy that self-limiting belief and just go for it! The more you step out of your comfort zone, the easier it gets.
I challenge you to do one thing that a self-limiting belief has held you back from doing. Once you do this and realize that voice in your head does NOT tell the truth, then do another one. Go on now, you CAN do it!
Courage is not about fearlessness, it is about being afraid and doing it anyway. - Cristal Lynn Cook