Breaking Limiting Beliefs 1
(Monday)
Context:
Employers value employees who are both confident and competent.
Many people make decisions or take actions, based on past experience. This may seem harmless. However, there are times when experiences we had as children are no longer valid and prevent us from making progress.
Over time, we can begin to believe that the one negative experience defines us. When negative past experiences hold us back from progressing or growing, we call them limiting beliefs.
What it is: 'Limiting beliefs' are deeply held, emotional and mental constraints that prevent us from taking actions, or cause us to view our abilities and ourselves in a negative way.
Why it’s important: Events that we experience as children can shape our view of ourselves and our abilities.
But we're not children anymore.
Some people never realize that the limitations they felt as children no longer apply to them. They bring these limiting beliefs into the workplace and negatively impact their performance and success.
By identifying any limiting beliefs we have now, we can slowly break free from them so we can enter the workplace and the rest of our life, with stronger self-esteem and confidence in our abilities.
Primer Questions
Do you have any limiting beliefs? Something that you feel you just aren’t capable of?
Can you recall a memory that made you feel bad or negative about yourself? What was the situation?
Do you feel any past difficult or traumatic events affect your self-esteem today?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
“
If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you.
”
―Louise Hay
How they develop.
Do you have a favorite subject in school? How about a least favorite subject?
If there’s a subject in school that you don’t like, it’s probably because it's difficult for you. Do you think it will always be difficult for you?
Are there subjects or skills that were difficult for you when you were younger, that aren’t difficult for you today?
Watch this video then answer the questions below, or discuss them with others.
NOTE: These videos are designed to explain basic principles. To enhance what you’re learning, try to teach a younger sibling the points made in the video.
Questions for reflection
What is your favorite subject(s) in school? What is your least favorite subject(s)? Why?
How do you feel when a subject is difficult for you? What emotions do you feel most?
If there is a subject that is difficult for you, do you think that subject will always be difficult for you?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal, or discuss them with others.
“Do the uncomfortable. Become comfortable with these acts. Prove to yourself that your limiting beliefs die a quick death if you will simply do what you feel uncomfortable doing.” -Darren Rowse
What causes limiting beliefs? Usually, past childhood experiences, along with a number of factors. But why are limiting beliefs attached to negative experiences and memories? Because your brain has the desire to protect you from pain in the future.
Simply put, you develop limiting beliefs because you don’t want to feel the emotions tied to those memories: frustration, shame, guilt, sadness, loneliness, or anger.
REMEMBER: You are growing mentally as much as you are physically.
Just as you had physical limitations when you were a child that you no longer have now, the same is true for you mentally. Things change. You change. What you are capable of will change.
Visualize and reason.
One trait of extremely successful people is that they never let past failures prevent them from trying again and again.
Consider the images below. Failure and improvement are just a fact of life. Growth doesn’t occur without the other. In time, these two factors can help you accomplish anything. Do you agree?
This baby can't even hold herself up. Does this mean she never will?
This baby can't even crawl. Does it mean she never will?
This toddler can't walk on his own. Does it mean he never will?
This child can't run very fast. But can he get faster?
These children are fast. But could they compete in the Olympics at this age?
At one point in their lives, these competitors couldn't even walk.
What would have happened if a child in any of the photos above chose to quit trying to walk or run because they fell, or weren’t fast?
What would you tell the child or person in the picture if they wanted to quit at that point in their life?
What do you tell yourself whenever something is difficult, or you want to quit because you haven’t reached your goal yet?
Don’t quit. Don’t stop. Just keep growing.
Thought of the day.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in, and day-out.”
Robert Collier
Metacognitive Goals
From now until Wednesday, notice how you feel about different subjects at school. If you think that one or more subjects are difficult for you, try to determine if you think that you will improve in the subject, or if that subject will always be difficult for you.
Try to notice if there are any other areas of life that are difficult for you or cause you frustration. Do you feel you will always struggle in these areas? Make sure you write your findings in your journal.