Defying Limits: The Power of Pushing Beyond Your Perceived Capabilities

Understanding Self-Limiting Beliefs

“Your belief determines your action, and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe.” – Mark Victor Hansen.

What if the limitations you perceive in your career, relationships, finances, or health are not as real as they seem? What if they are mental barriers formed by past experiences and societal expectations? These limitations may prevent you from the success and personal fulfillment you desire. But what if you could change them? This journey is not about staying safe in your comfort zone but expanding it. Join me over the coming paragraphs as we explore how pushing beyond your perceived boundaries can empower you to transform your life.

Self-limiting beliefs are repeated thoughts we tell ourselves to keep us from getting hurt. For instance, we may have experienced challenges in our intimate relationships and formed the limiting belief that relationships are complicated and not worth the effort. Therefore, we stop taking risks in our dating life for fear of getting hurt. That is, we trade our happiness for emotional safety. Is this something you have experienced?

Nod as an acknowledgment to yourself and a declaration that you are open to doing things differently. Familiar sources of limiting beliefs typically include past failures, the fear of judgment, and societal conditioning. I should emphasize that the limits we place upon ourselves are not necessarily fixed but mental constructs. These thoughts, when repeated, become ingrained in our minds, and we are convinced they are valid for us.

The Science Behind Breaking Limits

“The brain is wider than the sky.” – Emily Dickinson.

Neuroscience states that our capacity for growth and change occurs through neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity means that our brains can change and grow regardless of our age. With new experiences and thoughts, we can form new neural connections, which can help us break free from old, limiting patterns. To this degree, the brain is malleable and adaptable to change. This is important for several reasons, the least of which includes the physiological benefits of pushing beyond our perceived limits.

Expressed differently, if we remain in our comfort zone, we limit our brain’s capacity to form new neural connections, which is vital for growth and adaptability. This adaptability becomes paramount for helping us defy our limits and reach our potential. The work of Stanford’s Prof of Psychology Carol Dweck highlights the importance of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. We can overcome challenges and expand our comfort zone by developing a growth mindset and pushing beyond our perceived capabilities.

Countless stories of individuals defied their perceived limits, including athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people. I’m reminded of Nick Vujicic, the Australian-American motivational speaker born with the rare tetra-amelia syndrome, which is the absence of arms and legs. Nick’s story illustrates how he could have succumbed to despair due to his perceived physical limitations. However, Nick has become an internationally renowned speaker, entrepreneur, and author through perseverance and a positive mindset. He has dedicated his life’s work to helping others overcome obstacles, embrace their differences, and live a life without limits.

Nick's story is not about overcoming physical limitations. It's about challenging the mental barriers that stand in the way of success. He could have adopted a mindset that his physical condition limited his opportunities, but instead, he changed his outlook by refusing to believe in those limitations. While the path to success may not always be lined with roses, overcoming obstacles can help us discover our untapped potential. It’s important to emphasize that success does not arise from superhuman effort but from consistency, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to ourselves and our ambition.

Practical Steps to Challenge Your Limitations

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” – Theodore Roosevelt.

Consider the following actionable steps to challenge your perceived limitations.

1. Identify Your Current Limitations and Question Their Validity: In the opening paragraph, I asked you questions based on areas of your life where you may be holding yourself back. What is the trade-off for doing so? What does playing small or safe offer you? What could widening your zone of discomfort offer you instead? Are you willing to take risks and venture outside your comfort zone to find out? After reading this article, I invite you to answer these questions in your journal.
2. Set Incremental Goals That Stretch Your Capabilities: What small goals could you set for yourself to break free from your confined limitations? For instance, I mentioned intimate relationships previously. What small yet significant action are you willing to take to move towards overcoming this limitation? Remember, it needn’t be a monumental step or goal but something personal to you that will give you confidence and encouragement to move forward. This approach can make you feel more empowered and in control of your progress.
3. Practice Resilience and Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool: Failure needn’t crush our self-esteem because we shouldn’t associate failure with our self-worth. In other words, failure is simply feedback indicating that more skills, information, or effort is required to succeed. This is where resilience becomes paramount because every time we bounce back after a setback or failure, we reinforce our determination and resilience. We develop self-confidence and groove new neural connections in the brain through neuroplasticity, thereby strengthening our ability to push past obstacles.
4. Surround Yourself with Supportive Individuals: The American motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said: “We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” While this isn’t a strict rule or a scientifically proven fact, it is based on the understanding that our environment and the people we spend most of our time with influence our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Therefore, if we wish to push beyond our perceived capabilities, it requires being mindful of the people we associate with. That doesn’t mean you should distance yourself from people who may not share the same success mindset. It means being conscious of those we choose as part of our social circle. Consider whether they share the same values, beliefs, and outlook because there is a strong chance that we will take on their attitudes and beliefs if we are unaware.

As we’ve explored throughout the article, self-limiting beliefs and remaining in our comfort zone may feel safe, but they can also hinder our growth and potential. Breaking free starts with small, deliberate steps with the knowledge that our brains are designed to adapt and thrive beyond our perceived limits. Now is the time to reflect on where you’re holding back in your life and take action, no matter how small.

Remember: your brain is wired for growth, and pushing past your comfort zone is paramount to unlocking your potential. So, take that first step today, whether it involves speaking up in a meeting, setting new goals, or challenging a long-held belief. Embracing this slight shift opens the door to a future filled with fulfillment, success, and endless possibilities. Begin your journey and watch how pushing beyond your boundaries reveals untapped potential.

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