How to challenge limiting beliefs

We often struggle with our limited beliefs.

“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.” - Tony Robbins

What are limiting beliefs?

These are ideas and thoughts we believe to be true which can hold us back from being the person we want to be; they literally limit us. These beliefs can come from several different sources:

• family
• life experience
• people who have had a positive or negative impact on our lives

These beliefs can restrict us and cause fear, anxiety and loss of self-esteem.

So how do we begin to challenge the beliefs that prevent us from feeling fulfilled, happy, more successful, at peace or connected to our self-worth?

Every one of us is different, which means our limiting beliefs, outcomes and desired outcomes are individual to who we are. This is key.

Uncovering our own individual limiting beliefs, and how they prevent us from reaching our desired outcomes, is both personal and individual.

One of my biggest breakthroughs was realising that it is possible to change my beliefs. This gives me the freedom to make changes to my life and work towards my desired outcomes.

So, let’s get started.

Step 1: Name your limiting beliefs

Grab a pen and paper and complete a sentence using your mind to fill in the gaps.

Start each sentence with: “I am afraid that…”

Examples:

• “I am afraid that I am too old to change.”
• “I am afraid that I am too poor because I lack money and resources.”
• “I am afraid that I am too fat, too skinny, too tall or too short, and that nobody will find me attractive.”

Do this at least 10 times to uncover as many as you can.

Step 2: Understand your limiting beliefs

Once you have named them, write down the first five beliefs. Then, write next to them three to five reasons why you fear them. You might have to dig deep.

Example:

• “I am afraid I am not smart enough.”
• “I took a test when I was 16 and failed.”
• “I was told I just wasn’t smart enough.”
• “I never want to feel like that again, so I have never pursued the career I really wanted.”
• “I am afraid I will never be wealthy. My parents taught me that money is the root of all evil. I do not want them to disapprove of my life choices.”

Step 3: Challenge your limiting beliefs

This step is about questioning your beliefs and looking for evidence that they may not be the whole truth.

Under each belief, write as many points of evidence as you can that challenge your limiting belief and fears.

Think of experiences and things that have happened in your life that stand in contrast to your old limiting beliefs.

Example:

“I am afraid I will never be wealthy” (limiting belief); “My parents taught me that money is the root of all evil” (taught belief). “I do not want them to disapprove of my life choices” (fear).

Contrast:

“My best friend is wealthy and regularly donates money to charity. She is such a kind, compassionate person and my parents really like her.”

“My parents have never had money, so how do they really know?”

Step 4: Create a new empowering belief

Once you have questioned your limiting belief, you can now create a new belief.

Example:

“I know I am a good, honest person, and having wealth would enable me to enrich my life and the lives of others, including my parents.”

Repeat, repeat and repeat again, reinforcing the new belief and loosening the grip of the previous limiting one.

Some beliefs are deeper rooted than others. Although one session is often enough to give you clarity, you may find it helpful to repeat this process over the course of a month.

This process can give you more freedom to move towards the life you want.