5 Steps to Shift A Limiting Belief

* This post was featured on The Daily Love

Many people think one little tiny thought really doesn’t make that much of a difference. Guess what?? It does!

You decide how you think and what becomes a can or can’t. According to research, our brains can produce upwards of 50,000 thoughts a day. Ninety-nine percent of these thoughts are repeated daily. Your thoughts become your beliefs, which, in turn, become your mindset. Depending on what you believe is possible, you will or won’t take certain actions, which then lead to specific results (e.g., if you think you have no future as a writer, good chance you won’t enroll in a writing class, start a blog or write a book).

Here’s how a belief impacts your results:

Thoughts -> Beliefs -> Mindset -> Actions -> Results

SO for those of you who want different results, you’ll have to start to be more aware of how your thoughts and beliefs impact your choices and actions.

When you have a positive belief, a belief that helps you move toward your potential, versus a limiting belief, a belief that moves you away from your potential, you alter the direction of your life. Sometimes it’s a small curve and other times it’s a major rerouting. Please know that we all have limiting beliefs. You are not alone on this one. The only difference is some people are better at identifying them and re-wording them.

Your individual beliefs are similar to chapters in a book. When you put them all together, you have the belief system that becomes your story. The more you repeat your story, the more you believe it. The more you believe it, the more you become it (e.g., I’m not the type to start a business). Therefore, one seemingly insignificant belief repeated over and over can be the catalyst for all you create in your life or don’t.

Here are a few examples of limiting beliefs:

Relationships

– The only way I can be happy is if I’m in a relationship

– Relationships are not my thing

– I’m not worthy of having a partner

– I don’t like being vulnerable

– It makes me uncomfortable to ask for something

Healthy Living/Well-being

– I can’t workout in the morning

– I’m not that good at staying on track

– Working out is too hard for me

– I’ll never be able to get in shape given all of my commitments

Business/Career

– I will be successful if I make over a certain amount of money or fill in the blank _______

–  I will be happy when I change jobs

– I’m not good at marketing (I’ve said this one)

– It’s hard to find a job with a boss who is a good manager

– I’m not the creative one

– Being a manager is not for me

The list goes on and on for all of us. What’s interesting is we have different beliefs in different areas of our life, meaning we can have a positive belief in our career (e.g., give me any problem and I can figure out a solution) and then a completely limiting belief about our relationships (e.g., I’m not good with relationships. But you just said in your career that you can figure out solutions).

5 Steps to Shift a Limiting Belief:

1. Take five minutes and write down at least three limiting beliefs you may have in any area of you life (career, relationships, finance and health).

2. Does the belief add or detract from achieving your goals, exploring your potential and enhancing the quality of your life? Please be honest.

3. Does the belief support/align with your core values? (So if health and family are core values, does your belief that working out is too hard for you honor your values?)

4. Fast forward three years and ask if you keep honoring this belief what will it cost you? For example, how will your belief that you’re not good at marketing impact your business longer term?

5. Then rewrite the belief as one that brings you toward your potential.

For example: Marketing is a key component to growing my business and I will find the right people to help me be successful in this area. I’ve overcome other challenges and I can do this as well. *

* Now, of course, you need to take small steps each week to make this happen and keep yourself accountable

Based on our beliefs, we take certain actions. If you don’t think you’re a good public speaker you probably will not apply for your dream job if it involves any speaking requirements – and that would be a shame because we can all improve. You can definitely learn to be a better speaker with effort and practice. Limiting beliefs actually help us get better when we have the courage to face them and change our perspective.

We’d love to hear your success stories of re-wording your beliefs so they empower you, help you believe in yourself and fuel positive actions.

Believe in yourself,

Alissa

About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in Your Top 1%. She coaches entrepreneurs, executives, aspiring leaders, athletes, career changers, and moms getting back in the workforce. Alissa works one-on-one with clients and gives corporate workshops and classes via the phone throughout the year. To learn more and connect with Alissa, please visit her website and Facebook page.