Break Limiting Beliefs
(Wednesday)
Context:
Identifying any limiting beliefs you may have is the first step to overcoming them.
It’s important to understand where limiting beliefs originated.
Why it’s important: Limiting beliefs form because we subconsciously try to protect ourselves from pain and discomfort in the future, which means that we normally try to avoid whatever contributed to our limiting beliefs.
We need to use logic to objectively analyze the root cause of our limiting beliefs. We do not want limiting beliefs to impact our performance and success in the workplace or other areas of life.
What are some common limiting beliefs?
One of the top limiting beliefs is: I’m not good enough. Here are some other common misbeliefs.
I’m not smart enough.
I don’t belong.
I’m a failure.
I’ll never be successful.
I’m not worthy.
I’ll never be one of the best.
I’m not talented enough.
I don’t matter.
You may have also heard or thought this limiting belief: I’ll never be able to … fill in the blank.
Questions for reflection
When it comes to learning, is there something that was difficult for you in the past, that is easy for you now? How about riding a bike or swimming?
Do you appreciate that you’ve already made progress in many areas of your life? Think about what you know now in comparison to when you were 10. Think how much more you will know in ten more years!
Write down your answers and observations in your journal, or discuss them with others.
Keeping it simple
Before you deep dive into identifying your own limiting beliefs, let’s appreciate three simple truths about any limiting belief you discover:
1) You are a work in progress. Focus on progress.
2) Ask for help from a parent, friend, tutor, or mentor. Focus on improvement.
3) Overcoming strongly held beliefs takes time. Don’t be discouraged if you realize you have limiting beliefs. Focus on being patient with yourself as you grow.
One step at a time.
You learned to walk one step at a time. You may have fallen, but you made adjustments and slowly gained your balance. It was slow, but steady progress. You can learn whatever you set your mind to! One step at a time.
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.
Deep dive.
How limiting beliefs form.
Your senses trigger emotions:
Hearing
Limiting beliefs can develop from what others, perhaps your parents, teachers, or even friends have told you. What they say plants the seeds of the limiting belief.
It can be something like, “Maybe you should try playing another sport.”, “It’s a good thing you’re pretty.” or “Why can’t you be more like your brother?”.
Other times, what is said is blunter. “You’re an idiot.”, “You’ll never amount to anything.”, “Who do you think you are?”, or “You’re a disappointment.”
• Words can have a powerful impact on us because they can cause an emotional reaction. This can negatively impact even when what is said isn’t meant to be negative like the example above: “Maybe you should try playing another sport.”
• Oftentimes, comparisons create the limiting beliefs we have about ourselves.
• As we begin to adopt the negative belief, we may reinforce it ourselves through self-talk. We may begin to tell ourselves, “Who do you think you are?” or “I’ll never amount to much.”
Have you heard comments similar to any of the above? If so, how did they make you feel?
Your senses trigger emotions: Sight
There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words.
How do you feel when you see a low grade on your homework or test? How do you feel when you see 97% versus 52% on an assignment, or an A- versus D- on your final report card? If you see these scores and grades on a regular basis, what beliefs might you form about yourself and your abilities?
There are many limiting beliefs that form around body image. When you look in the mirror what do you think? What do you tell yourself? What emotions do you feel?
When you look at images on Instagram, Tiktok, or other social media platforms what do you think? How do you feel about yourself? Do you begin to create or reinforce limiting beliefs?
Has a parent or someone you respect ever looked at you with disappointment or disgust? Those images can be burnt into our minds and be the basis of powerful limiting beliefs.
Your senses trigger emotions: Environment
What you know forms your reality.
Perhaps where or how you grew up has contributed to a limiting belief. There are times when your family or culture influences how and what you believe about yourself, your abilities, self-worth, and your future.
In some cultures, males and females are not viewed as equals.
Can you identify any beliefs that you have about yourself that you have adopted from your parents or culture?
Review the following PDF. As you identify your limiting beliefs, keep in mind that you can change those beliefs. You can replace them with more accurate, positive beliefs about yourself and your abilities.
Thought of the day.
Every student can learn. Just not the same way or the same day.
Metacognitive exercise.
For the beginning part of this week, you were to identify subjects that were/are difficult for you in school. What was the result? If you did identify subjects that were difficult for you, have you started to create any limiting beliefs connected to yourself and your abilities to learn?
For the remainder of this week, using the information above, try to notice if you have any major limiting beliefs that you would like to address. On Friday we’ll look at how we can overcome our limiting beliefs!