We all have a set of core beliefs that guide us in our decision-making process. There are healthy ways of thinking that serve us well, and there are unhealthy ideologies, aka limiting beliefs that hold us back from reaching our most significant potential. A limiting belief is a state of mind, conviction, or thought that you think to be accurate, restricting you somehow. It could be the way you feel about yourself, your interactions with other people, or with the world, and how it works. They affect how you interpret the events in your life, and they influence the way you think, feel, and behave.
We’ve all heard the saying where the mind goes, the body follows, which is true because self-limiting beliefs turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when an initially false social idea leads people to act in ways that objectively confirm that belief. An individual’s expectations about another person or entity eventually result in the other person or entity acting to carry out the expectations.
One way to change your beliefs is to challenge your views head-on. You’re continually looking for evidence that reinforces your ideas, while simultaneously ignoring evidence to the contrary. Surround yourself with other healthy individuals who think differently than you do. As you’re challenging your thoughts, pay close attention to evidence suggesting that your opinions might not be 100 percent accurate. Slowly, over time, you’ll begin to unravel some of your unhealthy core beliefs.
Another way to change your limiting beliefs is to seek professional help. If you’re struggling to change your negative views on your own, you could benefit from the use of a coach, therapist, or counselor. Professionals have the resources and knowledge needed to help you overcome challenges and live a more satisfying life. They can also help you trace limiting beliefs and give you the tools you need to get over them. If you want better thoughts to guide your thinking and choices, you have to work on yourself, actively seeking development and growth opportunities in all aspects of your life.
Now that you’ve taken time to examine your core beliefs, it’s now time to consider ridding yourself of the harmful ones. Holding on to limiting beliefs can have several adverse effects on you and your relationships. They could keep you from making good choices, taking new opportunities, or reaching your highest potential. Ultimately, limiting beliefs can keep you stuck in a negative state of mind and hinder you from living the life you truly desire.
