12 Ways Limiting Beliefs Hold You Back – Overcome Them Today

What’s preventing you from living your dream life?

Did you list things like time, energy, money, or skills?

How many of those obstacles are real, and how many are inside your head? It’s time to tackle your limiting beliefs and reach your true potential.

What Are Limiting Beliefs?

Limiting beliefs are deeply held notions about ourselves and how the world works that aren’t necessarily true. However, we live as if they are true, holding ourselves back from achieving our goals. 

For example, you might think you need a master’s degree in psychology to be a life coach or motivational speaker, so you never pursue the career path. Did you know that the most famous life coach ever, Tony Robbins, doesn’t even have a bachelor’s degree?

If he can do it, why can’t you?

Deeply Rooted

Limiting beliefs hold us back, but we don’t even realize it. They’re often so deeply rooted in our subconscious that we don’t know they’re there, or if we do, we believe them to be absolute truths.

They’re called “beliefs” for a reason. They’re not objective truths, no matter how much our subconscious minds try to make us think they are.

And since they aren’t true, we don’t need to let them hold us back.

Where Do Limiting Beliefs Come From?

Our limiting beliefs seep into our subconscious from a wide range of sources, including:

•       Society’s Expectations
•       Parents
•       The Media
•       Experience
•       Religious teachings

From the time we’re young, we’re bombarded with messages from everyone, from the media to our parents and teachers, about what we can and can’t do. 

We even instill the message into ourselves. Sometimes, one bad experience as a child is enough to make us swear something off for good. We learned (incorrectly) that we can’t do it, and so we avoid it. 

Examples of Limiting Beliefs

Limiting beliefs abound. You probably hold many of them and don’t even realize it.

Here are 12 examples of limiting beliefs that might be holding you back.

It takes Money to Make Money

The adage “it takes money to make money” is a perfect example of societal limiting belief that holds people back. If you believe it, you might never even try to earn more, because you think it’s impossible given your current resources.

Though it’s easier to make money when you already have some, it’s possible to start from nothing and grow wealth. If you believe that – you can succeed.  

I’m Not Capable

We’re often our own worst enemies. We tell ourselves over and over again that we can’t do something, and eventually, we start to believe it.

Shift your thinking and transform those “I can’ts” Into “I cans.”

I Have No Time

So much to do, so little time, right? Claiming there’s no time is a comforting excuse – it lets us off the hook for giving up on our dreams.

But it’s usually not true. How much time do you spend in front of the television or doom scrolling on your phone? You could use that time more wisely if you wanted.

I’m Too Old

Success has no age limit. Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in his mid-40s. Cervantes wrote Don Quixote when he was 58. Julia Child found fame as she approached 50.

 There’s still time to achieve greatness, except maybe if you want to be an athlete.

I Need to Do X First

Life abounds with hurdles, but often, they’re self-imposed. We don’t pursue our goals because the obstacles seem insurmountable, but how many of them are real?

Sue Hendrickson didn’t need a planetology degree to discover the biggest T-Rex specimen known to man. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates both dropped out of college.

Stop putting your life on hold because you don’t have the “right credential” and start working toward what you want.

I’m Not Good Enough

Those with low self-esteem struggle with the limiting belief that they aren’t good enough. They think they aren’t smart enough for college, loveable enough for a relationship, or engaging enough for friends.

None of that is true.

You deserve happiness exactly how you are.

Money is the Root of All Evil

A lot of limiting beliefs involve money. The idea that money is actually evil may be holding you back from living the life you want.

People who strongly believe money has a negative moral leaning may subconsciously avoid things that bring them wealth. You may sabotage interviews, refuse investment opportunities, and neglect financial security because deep down, you think it’s evil.

I Can’t Afford It

Money itself often limits us. Everything we want to do in life costs something, and with rising inflation, it’s almost impossible to pay for our needs, much less our wants.

But sometimes, you could afford what you want – with a giant caveat. You’d have to sacrifice something else – something that brings you comfort. You also might have to choose a cheaper path, like buying used instead of new, attending community college, or backpacking on a budget.

Before tossing your hands up and saying you can’t afford it, consider whether you’re prioritizing other things, or if there’s an alternative you haven’t considered.

I Don’t Deserve It

We limit ourselves when we don’t think we deserve good things in life. You must examine where the idea comes from.

Who says you don’t deserve happiness, wealth, love, or whatever you desire? Why do others deserve it, but not you?

Thoughts of what we “deserve” often originate with religious teachings. We’re told we deserve punishment for breaking rules, and the message resonates. We can’t forgive ourselves, even after years of penance.

Let it go. Everyone has made mistakes in the past. You are worthy of forgiveness, especially from yourself.

Nobody Cares What I Have To Say

Do you speak up in groups, or stay quiet because you don’t think your opinion matters? Those with low self-esteem may struggle to voice their thoughts, believing they don’t matter anyway.

Everyone deserves a chance to be heard. If a specific group can’t be bothered with your opinion, you should ditch them and find people who value your contributions.

I Just Got Lucky

Even relatively successful people struggle with limiting beliefs. I used to say “I got lucky,” when asked how I got my great job.

My cousin helped me realize that wasn’t true. I went to college and earned the right degree. I crafted a resume and slayed the interview. Then, I excelled at my work and secured well-deserved promotions. None of it was luck, it was all based on choices I made and effort I put into my life.

Luck may play a small role, but most of your achievements are due to your own hard work.

I Will Fail

A limiting belief that stops us from even trying is the fear of failure. Why bother if you won’t succeed?

Americans have a messed up view of failure, and we need to change the way we think about it.

So what if you fail? You probably learned something that will help you improve for next time. Stop fearing failure and start embracing it!

How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

Overcoming limiting beliefs sometimes means changing our entire belief system.  We have to examine our biases and reject our inner critics. Instead of coming up with thousands of reasons why we can’t, we need to shift our mindsets and think of a single reason why we can.

It’s easier said than done. However, as a certified life coach, I can help.

Add these tools to your kit to start identifying and overcoming your limiting beliefs to live a happier life.

Examine Your Belief

You need to examine your beliefs with an analytical mind. How true are they really?

For example, many of us say money is a massive limiting factor in our lives. We can’t afford to do what we want.

But how true is that?

I once had a friend who said she wished she could afford to travel as much as I do. She was jealous of my jet setting ways, and believed it was out of reach for her.  Was it?

This friend drove a BMW, and got a new one every few years. She planned for and had two children, bought a home in the suburbs, and went to Starbucks every single day. Did she not have enough money to travel, or did she prioritize other things?

Consider whether you really lack the time, money, or energy to do what you love, or whether you’re spending it elsewhere.

You may discover that your limiting factors are self-imposed.

Journal

Journaling can help you identify your limiting beliefs and determine where they came from. Writing in a journal is a great self-care activity and can help you reflect upon your inner desires and challenges. 

If you’re not sure what to write about, use journal prompts to get started. We have a set of 75 introspective journaling prompts available on our Etsy store that can help you get into the habit of journaling about your inner thoughts.

Set Affirmations

Affirmations are daily statements of fact which help us change our inner beliefs and subconscious mind. Examples include “I am worthy,” or “I can do this.” 

When you repeat these statements to yourself, you force your subconscious to believe it, thus rewiring your brain.

Use affirmations to challenge limiting beliefs by setting an opposite affirmation. Tell yourself “I can become a great life coach,” every day, and you will start to believe it.

When your limiting belief is based on low self-esteem, affirmations can help you feel more positive about yourself. Instead of telling yourself you’re not good enough, send a different message. Tell your subconscious that you are good enough, you are deserving, you are worthy. Eventually, the message will sink in.

An affirmation is like a daily mantra. We tell ourselves we are capable, worthy, good enough, and our minds will start to believe it.

Make a Vision Board

Vision boards can help you train your subconscious to reject a limiting belief. Fill yours with your personal goals, dreams, and desires. When making it, don’t worry about what’s possible, focus solely on what you want.

The act of making it and looking at it every day will help your subconscious realize it’s possible, and that’s essential to overcoming limiting beliefs.

Knowledge is Power

Did you know that Tony Robbins didn’t have a degree before I told you?

Consider what you want out of life, and what your limiting beliefs tell you is required. Now go out there and find some examples that prove your limiting beliefs false.

Find someone who overcame the odds and did what you wanted without the things you think you need. Prove to yourself that it’s possible.

Therapy

Sometimes we can’t overcome our limiting beliefs on our own. Many of us have deep-rooted trauma, and no amount of journaling or affirmations will help. If that’s the case, I recommend therapy. A good therapist can help you understand how your trauma affects your self-worth and can offer tools to help you overcome it.

A Better Life Awaits!

A better life is within reach – if you can identify and overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back.

I have faith in you – do you?