Limiting beliefs

Limiting beliefs are the subconscious drivers of our fears. They are the self-fulfilling prophecies that weigh down our progress. This exercise aims to record the quantity and efficacy of the limiting beliefs we might carry with us.

Preparation

Definition

A limiting belief is a personal conviction (accepting that something is true) that restricts an individual's potential; they operate as internal mental barriers that can prevent someone from taking action, pursuing goals, or even envisioning change. These beliefs can be a combination of misinterpreted information, negative past experiences, and social/cultural conditioning. Unlike factual limitations, a limiting belief is a subjective construct that, despite feeling true to the individual, may not be objectively accurate and therefore can be challenged and overcome.

Disclaimer

This exercise is aimed to work in the realm of mental health, not mental disease. If going through this exercise has an extreme negative effect, please stop this exercise and visit your doctor or psychologist as soon as possible.

Limiting beliefs exercise

Introduction

Get into a comfortable meditative position and establish a connection with your own body. Sense what is around you, either by making direct contact with you or emitting sounds in your vicinity.

Relax your body and whenever ready, contemplate the questions and write down the answers for every section.

Childhood / family

1. Is there any prevailing assertion that was directed at you by your parents? This can be a statement or opinion that got repeated so many times it started feeling as objective truth at some point. This question focuses on limiting opinions such as "you are bad at talking, so it's best if you don't".

2. Was there any non-explicit assertion directed at you? Sometimes beliefs develop unconsciously taking cues from other people's behavior. For example, adults not paying attention to you as a child, or them constantly signaling at you that you were low in their scale of importance. This might have developed into a belief such as "I am not worth the time that is invested in me".

Personal

3. Do you have limiting beliefs towards yourself?

4. Do you have any insecurities? Can you correlate a limiting belief such as "bodies should be perfect and beautiful" or "aging is bad" to a particular insecurity?

Background / cultural

5. Do you have any limiting beliefs in relation to your background? It may be the case that you think something negative based on where you were born or the place you live in.

6. Do you have any cultural limiting beliefs? It could be that in your culture assertions are commonly used such as "think the worst and you won't be disappointed" or "you can't trust anyone".