December 2, 2020
When it comes to overcoming your limiting beliefs the first thing you need to know is that you’ll need to get comfortable looking at your past before moving forward. There’s this saying that “Your new life is going to cost you your old one”. But the reality of the matter is that your new life is going to cost you your old PROGRAMMING.
You can change your country, relationships, clothes… whatever. But unless you change your old programming then few of those changes will actually have a LASTING impact. If you want to reach the next level of success or truly change an aspect of your life you have to address the programmes your life is currently running on.⠀⠀⠀⠀
This can be incredibly confronting, especially when you realise half of the programmes you didn’t even put there in the first place. However, you are the only one who can take the responsibility for changing them.
And that, my friend, is the true price of your new life.
So if you’re ready to wave goodbye to those limitations that are no longer serving you here’s what you need to know.
Overcoming limiting beliefs step one – Understand the what and why
What are limiting beliefs?
If you want to change your limiting beliefs you first need to understand WHAT they actually are.
So to recap: your programming is responsible for creating your reality and world view. This programming is based on your beliefs about the world. Some empowering and some limiting.
How are the limiting beliefs formed?
All beliefs begin as thought. Then after hearing or thinking the same thought for a sustained amount of time it graduates to a fully-fledged belief.
Going forward your subconscious mind deletes, distorts and generalises all new information to fit in with your model of the world, which is built from your past experiences.
Example of how limiting beliefs are formed
If you have a belief based on past heartbreak that all [insert gender] are trash then guess what? Even if new people that show up in your life aren’t actually shitty people you’re going to view them like that anyway.
Experience – Have a devastating heartbreak.
Thought repeated over time – This is too painful. I don’t trust people to honour my heart. How could someone do this to me?
Limiting belief – People are trash I can never find the good ones.
Any slight annoyance may be blown hugely out of proportion in order to prove your existing beliefs. Though this system of ordering the world can work in your favour, a lot of the time the programmes running in the background are not conducive to your success.
Limiting beliefs are your egos way of protecting you, even if these beliefs are misinformed. So that’s not to say you’re purposely sabotaging yourself because you don’t want to be happy.
However, once you’re equipped with this newfound information you have a decision to make. Stay the same or commit to doing the work to consciously change the limiting beliefs that are no longer serving you.
Overcoming limiting beliefs step two – a desire to change
Committing to changing when your life isn’t entirely a dumpster fire takes a lot of willpower. When nothing is ringing the alarm bells too loud it might seem like it’s fine just to leave things as they are. Still, one of the biggest lessons in self-development that I’ve learnt over the past couple of years is that sometimes the safe option is only safe in the short term.
From the outset, it looks all enticing with its cosiness and knowing how things play out in this version of events. However, from a long term perspective, you need to be willing to bet on yourself. Personal development is not something you do once or twice and then just go back to how things were; it’s an ongoing commitment.
Part of that is making uncomfortable choices, overcoming that imposter syndrome and flinging yourself out of your comfort zone in the process. Personal growth is happening with or without your conscious effort. Even if you change nothing there will still be change you simply don’t have control over. The speed at which you go? How you choose to react? That you absolutely have control over.
Overcoming limiting beliefs step three – release blame
As I mentioned, not all limiting beliefs are ones that you have created. You may have picked up your limiting beliefs from family members, colleagues, friends and anyone else you’ve spent time with. Especially in your earliest stages of development.
Though this revelation can be deeply frustrating. Wasting time on blaming others is simply that – a waste of time. No one, but you has the power to overcome your limiting beliefs.
When you consider the fact that most people will not have maliciously rubbed off their own limiting beliefs on you this can be easier. In fact, many limiting beliefs have extremely innocent beginnings.
Taking 100% responsibility is one of the most powerful things you can do to prevent yourself from falling into victim mode. Instead of asking “why me?” ask “what now?”
Overcoming limiting beliefs step four – creating empowering new stories
In order to truly overcome your limiting beliefs, you need to replace them with empowering stories. These stories at first may take some time to get used to but the aim is to keep crowding out the old beliefs until they finally stick – rapid integration of new beliefs is one of my favourite parts of the work I do with my 1:1 clients!
When creating your own empowering new stories I recommend pairing these two incredible resources: Manifest + Reflect and Alchemising Affirmations.
Manifest + Reflect is a workbook dedicated to helping you manifest on purpose and reflect on each month. Use this to not only create but live your new stories!
Alchemising Affirmations is an e-guide that explains the ins and outs of how affirmations work to reprogramme your subconscious mind. Use this to uproot and understand old beliefs.
Remember gorgeous, you are in control of the image you paint of your life. Make it a vivid one.
Overcoming limiting beliefs step five – honour your journey
Overcoming limiting beliefs in my own life has definitely been extremely confronting in some areas, but I remember to always treat myself with compassion. The work is an ongoing process and often you’ll have to address the same belief SEVERAL times. Yup.
Facing your limiting beliefs head-on takes courage, but as do most things in life that have the biggest rewards. In facing your limiting beliefs you’re afforded a unique opportunity to meet yourself in your entirety. Flaws and all.
Once you begin to develop this relationship with yourself you’ll understand there’s no such thing as good or bad only a matter of perspective.
How will you choose to look at your world and the people in it?
