Today I want to talk about limiting beliefs. We all have them and there are some very common ones that I want to look at. These common limiting beliefs can hold us back in life and what I want to do with this post is give you some ideas on how to transform the limiting beliefs into positive statements or positive affirmations.

Now I have to remind you that just saying positive affirmations isn’t going to work to change your limiting beliefs unless you believe the affirmations you are saying. Using positive statements can however help to start shifting those limiting beliefs and if you use the information that I shared in previous posts about questioning your beliefs, you will be able to see them for exactly what they are and how they are holding you back from achieving the life of your dreams.

Below is a list of common limiting beliefs:

• I’m not good enough
• I don’t have what it takes
• I need more confidence
• I can’t get people to like me
• No one will help me
• I’m a failure
• I can’t succeed
• I don’t know how

There are lots more limiting beliefs that you can probably add to this list but the whole point of this post is to show you how to turn the negatives into positives.

Let’s use the negative phrases, “I can’t do it” and “It’s impossible”, as an example. These are really common phrases and we probably have said them to ourselves over and over again. Just think about them for a moment. I’m sure you can remember numerous times when you have said them. Can you remember the emotions that came with them? The emotions are usually of frustration, anger, feeling useless, etc. They are all negative and don’t help you to feel good. What if you were to say something like: “All things are possible and I do the best that I can. I will ask for help if I need it”.

How does that phrase make you feel?

It doesn’t feel as negative. In fact, for me it feels a lot more positive and hopeful and I know that I don’t have to do it on my own, I can ask for help if I need it. I am taking the pressure off myself and it feels great.

Here’s another that you are probably very familiar with: “I’m too tired”. Why not try saying, “I will slow down and rest when I need it to replenish my strength”.

What about, “I can’t go on” – “I have the strength I need to overcome this challenge”.

“I don’t have enough time” – “I have all the time I need”.

“I can’t figure things out” – “I discover new steps so that I can do everything I put my heart and mind into”.

“I’m not able” – “I am able. I have all the skills and talents I need”.

“I’m not smart enough” – “I have all the wisdom I need”.

“I feel lonely” – “I will reach out to others”.

“I don’t deserve love” – “I deserve love; I can have love”.

“I’m terrible” – “I am fine as I am”.

“I am worthless” – “I am worthy; I am worthwhile”.

“I am not good enough” – “I am deserving”.

“I am ugly” – “I am fine as I am”.

“I am stupid” – “I am intelligent”.

“I am a disappointment” – “I am okay just the way I am”.

“I deserve to be miserable” – “I deserve to be happy”.

“I should have done something” – “I did the best I could”.

“I should have known better” – “I do the best I can (I can learn)”.

“I should have done more” – “I did as much as I could”.

This list could go on and on but I hope you can see how easy it is to change these limiting beliefs so that they are something more positive. We have all at some time said, “I should have done more”, but the reality of it is, we were doing the best we could at the time and we did as much as we could at the time. The emotion that brings this limiting belief is guilt and sometimes fear. When you have these thoughts it is important to look at what the underlying emotion is so that you can work on the emotion and help remove the limiting belief.

Turning your negatives into positives is the first step to success and it reminds me of the phrase, “Turn that frown upside down”, it makes you smile. Try to spend some time today listening to the words you speak and the thoughts you have. Try to catch your limiting beliefs and turn the negatives into positives. Perhaps you could write them down in a notebook so that you can work on them one at a time. By changing the words you say to and about yourself, you can start to change your life one phrase at a time.

If you have any tips, suggestions, or tools that you use to remove and work through limiting beliefs, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

Until next time,

Amanda