Are Limiting Beliefs Impacting Your Success?

Limiting beliefs refers to a belief system that is self-inhibiting. This system discourages exploration of what we understand as a “wider cognitive space.” The beliefs created and perpetuated in this type of system are strongly held, often due to heavy emotional attachment. (For example, a parent’s faith passed onto a new generation.) Interestingly, self-limiting beliefs have been observed in both human beings and animals. Of what importance, though, is the idea of “limited beliefs” to you? The first question is where limiting beliefs come from. A person’s upbringing and parental stability is an important factor in determining origins of belief. However, other factors such as a person’s own self-image, and their personal perceptions of the world (based on experience and learning) also contribute. Consider some examples of self-limiting beliefs. As you read over them, you will find that these beliefs are not so scientific at all, but very relatable statements that you might hear from friends and acquaintances. (Perhaps even from your own mouth.) • “This is my destiny. I cannot escape it.” • “I have to do this, because no one else can.” • “It’s just what people expect of me.” • “I’m just like my father and I can’t change that.” • “If I tell someone the truth, they will take their business elsewhere.” • “I’ve always gotten this result so anything else is unrealistic.” All of these statements allude to limiting beliefs that assign specific qualities to the person that cannot be escaped or changed. These qualities could be capabilities, roles, or traits. The person may feel burdened to continue their path (however dangerous or miserable) because of a need to follow this limiting belief. The truth of the matter is that the person is choosing their own path and they cannot fathom having to stop the cycle and think outside this predetermined life. • “I can’t do it. I know I can’t.” • “There’s no point in even trying.” These statements are alluding to limiting beliefs, in which the person decid