4 Steps to Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Let’s talk about beliefs. Beliefs are something accepted as truth; an opinion or conviction.
What makes a belief important?
• Belief is the basis of our identity, as our character and our behavior are based primarily on our beliefs.
• Everything we do, from the smallest to our biggest actions, can be traced back to beliefs we hold about the world, ourselves and life in general.
Many beliefs are created in our childhood. Check your beliefs….Tune in to your thoughts and observe what you believe about yourself, others and the world. Write them down. Where do they come from? Some may be true and some can definitely be challenged.
The beliefs you hold are connected to your expectations about life.
Imagine what your expectations might be if you hold some of the beliefs listed in the picture? If you’re ‘not lovable, no one understands you or your feelings don’t matter’....How does that impact your self esteem, confidence and how you show up in relationships & what you believe about life (it’s hard, easy, flowing, a struggle...)This is what’s called limiting beliefs.
Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny. -Gandhi
It takes a conscious effort to break limiting beliefs and old negative thought patterns.
The journey into self-awareness will take you onto an unmistakable path of not only identifying your thought patterns, but of also acknowledging the effects that they have on your physical, emotional & spiritual overall well-being. Here’s how to begin using my 4 A’s coaching tool:
Awakening: pay attention to your inner dialogue. Begin listening to things you think and say-about yourself and others. Do this without judgment, justification or critic; just observe and listen with an objective interest. Activate your curiosity of your own inner chatter and world. Write it down.
Awareness: trace the origin of your thoughts. Where did you first learned this way of thinking? Who introduced you to that particular idea? This is how you begin to separate your thoughts from the real you. You are not your thoughts. Begin to introduce more helpful thoughts & beliefs, such as daily affirmations or adding a kinder inner voice to the mix.
Acceptance: acknowledge the beliefs are beliefs, not truths. Begin to question and challenge your thoughts. Fact check your beliefs and note if they’re based in facts or fiction, facts or feelings, fact or false? Also, stop beating yourself up for having your reoccurring old stories about yourself. Instead, continue the practice of inserting positive elements into it, until it becomes a new habit.
Action: take ownership and responsibility for your mindset. Decide a desired outcome and begin a daily practice towards your intention to hold different beliefs that benefit you. What would you do differently in the future if you held more useful beliefs? Imaging yourself doing it at an appropriate time in the future. Catch yourself when you’re in a negative loop, identify how the body feels in those moments. Use it as a signal to let you know when it’s time to move the body for a reset, challenge your thinking and ask more questions, make less statements.
Limiting beliefs, whilst appearing real, may simply be a result of flawed thinking, which can be overcome in numerous ways. It begins with self awareness, a willingness to explore your inner world and a desire for powerful, positive change. And practice, of course! Lots of practice.
Tp Powerful, Positive Change…Cheers!
Imagine from @miss-mental