"Your subconscious mind does not argue with you. It accepts what your conscious mind decrees. If you say, 'I can't afford it', your subconscious mind works to make it true. Select a better though. Decree, "I'll buy it. I accept it in my mind" (Dr Joseph Murphy)
Many of us have beliefs that limit our success - whether they are beliefs about our own capabilities, beliefs about what it takes to succeed, beliefs about how we should relate with other people, or even common everyday myths that modern day science or research studies have long since refuted. Moving beyond your limiting beliefs is a critical first step toward becoming more successful. You can learn how to identify those beliefs that are limiting you and then replace them with positive ones that support you success.
You Are Capable
One of the most prevalent and destructive limiting beliefs is the notion that somehow we are not capable of accomplishing our goals. Where does this come from? For most of us, it's a matter of early childhood programming. We carry this sense of inability into adulthood, where it gets reinforced through workplace mistakes and other 'failures'.
You Are Capable And Worthy Of Love
Likewise, many people don't believe they are competent to handle life's challenges or are worthy of love - yet these two beliefs are the two main pillars of high self-esteem. Believing that you are capable of handling anything that comes up in your life means that you are no longer afraid of anything.
Think about this, haven't you handled everything that has ever happened to you? Things that were far more difficult than you thought they would be?
Believing you are worthy of love means that you believe that I deserve to be treated well - with respect and dignity. I deserve to be cherished and adored by someone. I am worthy of an intimate and fulfilling relationship. I won't settle for less then I deserve. I will do what ever to create that for myself.
You Can Overcome Any Limiting Belief
We suffer from other limiting beliefs too. Do these sound familiar?
- I am not (smart, attractivve, rich, young) enough
- I am not lovable
- I am not worthy
- I am not safe
- Life is hard
- They would never pick me
- Even if I don't like this job, I need to financial security
- Nothing I do is ever successful
- You can't get rich in this profession.
- There aren't any good men left in this town
How to overcome any limiting belief
Here is a simple but powerful four-step process you can use to transform any limiting belief into an empowering belief:
- Identify a limiting belief that you want to change. Make a list of them, invite friends round and let them help you find things you heard growing up that may have become limiting beliefs. Here are some common ones and the limiting beliefs that grow out of them:
"Money doesn't grow on trees"
I'll never be rich
"Boys don't cry"
It's not okay to share my feelings, especially my sadness
"Act like a lady"
*It's not okay to act playful (silly, sexual, spontaneous)
When you are finished creating your list, pick a belief that you think is till limiting you and take yourself through the remaining three steps of the process.
Determine how the belief limits you
Decide how you would rather be, act, or feel
Create a turnaround statement that affirms or gives you permission to be, act, or feel in this new way.
For example:
My negative limiting belief is I have to do everything by myself. It's not okay to ask for help. It's a sign of weakness.
The way it limits me is I don't ask for help and I end up not meeting deadlines, staying up too late, and not making enough time for myself.
The way I want to feel is that it's okay to ask for help. It does not make me weak. It takes courage to ask for help. I ask for help when I need it, and I want to delegate to others some of the things I don't like doing and that are not the best use of my time.
My turnaround statement is that it's okay to ask for help. I am worthy of receiving all the support I need.
Once you have created a new belief - your turnaround statement - you will need to implant it into your subconscious mind through constant repetition several time a day for a minimum of 30 days. Claude Bristol points out in his magnificent book The Magic of Believing, "This subtle force of repeated suggesting overcomes our reason. It acts directly on our emotions and our feelings, and finally penetrates to the very depths of our subconscious mind. It's the repeated suggestion that makes you believe".
