How to rid ourselves of self-limiting beliefs

Some thoughts about today’s task to help you get rid of YOUR self-limiting beliefs ...

Let’s work on this together It is important to remember that our past does not have to dictate our future. The only thing that matters is how we act TODAY. So let’s look at some empowering ways to build our confidence and rid ourselves of those self-limiting beliefs.

Add to today’s journal

List your past successes and accomplishments

Most of us are unduly hard on ourselves. We tend to recall our mistakes and failures more than our successes. Sure, we have fallen short and blundered as everyone has at one point. But we also have managed to overcome difficult situations successfully and accomplish things that we can be proud of.

Make a list of all the things you have achieved in your life, both big and small. You will be surprised how many things you’ve accomplished and didn’t give yourself credit for.

Even more effective, add accomplishments to your list every day or every week and read it often. You are more capable than you realize.

Seek positive feedback from others

Ask the people closest to you to tell you about your positive traits, talents and skills. Since we tend to be extremely critical of ourselves, get positive feedback from others who are better able to see your virtues. You may be surprised by what you hear and may learn that you have more going on for you than you realised. Positive reinforcement from others can be very powerful and empowering. The more regularly you do this, the bigger an impact is has on your self-confidence and belief.

Question your current negative beliefs and replace them with positive ones.

One factor that determines our level of self-confidence is our beliefs. Many people with low self-confidence hold limiting beliefs that are not based on reality. For example, you might believe that nobody likes you when, in actual fact, there are many people who love you and cherish your company.

Take the time to write down your limiting beliefs today and question their accuracy. Just as people once believed that the world was flat, acknowledge that many of your limiting beliefs are flat out wrong. Be honest with yourself and look for evidence that disproves your beliefs. Then substitute your beliefs with empowering ones that are based on truth. Review these beliefs often until they become part of your new belief system.

Take tiny steps and make small changes.

Many of us look too far into the future and forget that a journey starts with the first step. When we take tiny steps and make small changes in our lives, we slowly start to believe in our ability to take action. If you want to lose 40 pounds, start small by reducing your food intake by 100 calories every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for example.

Build momentum

When we act and take small steps, we start to build momentum. We know intuitively that once we start moving, our momentum makes it easier to keep going forward. This is why it is so important to take action, no matter how seemingly small. Much like a rocket launch that uses the most fuel in the first stage, once you start moving, your propulsion becomes easier.

Think of a fear you have overcome

When we lack confidence and self-belief, we become fearful that we are not good enough or worthy enough. We fear the consequences associated with failing so we do not try. This fear can be paralyzing as we all know. In order to counteract this fear, think of the times when you were scared of doing something but did it anyway and were successful. It could be the first time you dived into a pool, or when you asked someone out on a date. This might seem trivial, but write these instances down. We all have the ability to overcome fear. Very often, our minds exaggerate possible negative consequences and replay them over and over in our heads. Most of our fears are unwarranted. As Mark Twain said, “I have spent most of my life worrying about things that never happened”.

Improve your skills/competence

Make the effort to improve your skills through constant learning. If you want to start learn more about using and sharing the healing benefits our essential oils, simply book to watch our free online introduction class. Then enjoy access to ongoing support and training by becoming part of our team.

We should always be learning and improving our skills and competencies. The mere act of doing so helps to build confidence.

Surround yourself with positive people.

The kind of people we surround ourselves with affects how we think, feel and act. This affects our self-belief. Make it a point to spend most of your time with people who are positive, non-critical, and have an optimistic view on life. These people will support and encourage you via their words and actions. They will lift you up as opposed to weigh you down. To paraphrase a famous quote, ‘Show me who your friends are, and I will show you your future.’

View past failures as learning opportunities

There is not one person in this world who has not failed at something. It is a natural part of life. Many of the most successful people in this world have failed numerous times. The difference is that they did not give up or allow themselves to stay down for too long. They licked their wounds, dusted themselves off, and learned from their failure. You see, our failures are some of the best learning opportunities that we will encounter. When we fail, we learn valuable lessons and become wiser. The only people who do not fail are those who do not try, and not trying is the ultimate failure. Look at your past failures as valuable lessons. Be grateful for them because they have taught you what does not work. If you hold the belief that you are not good or worthy enough to accomplish something because of your past failures, review point number 3 and question this belief. All of us should view failure as a valuable lesson that makes us better. When we do this, our self-confidence does not need to suffer. In fact, we can actually use our failures to boost our self-confidence because we know that we have learned from our mistakes and are better off.

Be present

Almost every time we feel sadness, anger, or regret, we are ruminating about something in the past.

Conversely, almost every time we feel stress and worry, we are thinking about the future. That is why it is so important to be present and aware in life.

The only time you really possess is now since the past is gone forever and the future is never guaranteed. When we learn to be present, we eliminate a lot of our heartache and anxiety. This frees up our minds to focus on our abilities rather than our mistakes from the past or possible undesirable outcomes in the future. When you feel bad or powerless because of something that has happened in the past, you are not being present. When you are plagued with worry about something in the future, you are not present. Be present because it empowers you.

Being present allows you to find the true focus in what you do and you find satisfaction in what you have achieved after.

Taken from our Self Love & Healing 31 day challenge.

Inspired by @Alison Thomas