Changing your limiting beliefs can lead to greater happiness
This week we share some helpful ideas on how to recognize and change our negative thoughts, which often show up as “limiting beliefs,” from a recent Broken Brain podcast mini-episode, with Dhru Purohit. He interviews three authors who are experts at helping people overcome their limiting beliefs.
Have you ever thought. . .
“I’m not smart enough/ skilled enough/creative enough to accomplish _____.”
“Taking care of myself means I am selfish.”
“I will let people down if I say ‘no’.”
“I don’t have enough time to accomplish ___________”
These phrases that we often recite to ourselves, repeatedly, are examples of limiting beliefs and can impact many aspects of our lives: who we choose as partners, what we believe we can achieve, what we believe we deserve. They impact our mindset, the lens through which we see almost everything.
Interview highlights
What is a limiting belief?
According to Shelly Lefkoe, it’s a statement about reality that you BELIEVE to be true. Beliefs stop serving us when they begin to impact our behavior and limit what we believe we can achieve or have in our lives.What is the power of limiting beliefs?
In her interview, Amber Rae shares how limiting beliefs can keep us from “living our purpose” and can add to our daily stress. Amber reminds us that the number one regret of people dying in hospice is that they did not live true to themselves because they “let other people’s priorities dictate their lives.”How to diminish their power?
Once you’ve noticed you have a limiting belief, Marie Forleo recommends you tell yourself that “everything is figureoutable.” Once you believe it’s true, the power of the limiting belief starts to diminish, and what you believe you deserve/ can achieve begins to change. You can learn more about this concept in her aptly titled book “Everything is Figureoutable.”
Ways to counter negative thoughts
Neuroscience research tells us that each time we repeat something (whether positive or negative), we deepen a new neural groove. An incredibly empowering discovery, because we have the power to “mold” our minds. One way to do this is with “positive affirmations.” Every time we turn a limiting belief into a positive thought, we deepen a positive pattern rather than a negative one. The process is pretty simple, but it may feel strange to do it at first.
Here are a few examples of how to create a positive affirmation from a limiting belief:
I’m not smart enough/ skilled enough/ creative enough to accomplish ____.
→ I can achieve anything.
Taking care of myself is selfish.
→ I am committed to my well-being.
I will let people down if I say “no.”
→ I am worthy and my needs matter.
How to practice
The Take Two Journal offers prompts to help you identify your limiting beliefs and space to turn them into positive affirmations. Our online course takes it one step deeper, offering written practice as well as a guided meditation created by our meditation instructor Ray Baskerville that walks you through the process of internally repeating positive affirmations.
Don’t hesitate to share ideas or questions with us here or on one of our social channels!
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This blog is created by Take Two: a Journal for New Beginnings, a guided journal that shares tools, activities, and writing prompts designed to build inner-resilience. Published by Chronicle Books.
LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? We’ve created an online course to guide you through the journal with videos from the co-authors, additional writing prompts, and original guided meditations.
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