HJ: When we are young we are like sponges — we have no filter in place to keep us from picking up maladaptive conditioning from the world around us. It is simply a fact of how children learn and grow. We come in like a blank slate and our personalities are shaped largely through the experiences we have as children and the conditioning we receive from our parents and family. Therefore, all of us pick up beliefs at these early ages that we hold onto into our adult lives and that continue to influence us beyond their initial usefulness. We are often times unaware of these beliefs and patterns which are frequently detrimental in that they cause us to react to situations, people and stimuli in predictable ways that often limit our potential as we are not able to see beyond the artificial boundaries they create for us.
These are the biggest barriers we face to achieving our dreams and ultimately our highest potential. Hidden beliefs and perceptions that are operating just beyond our awareness are like leashes that keep us tied to the proverbial porch. However, we can release them when we are ready. The first step in doing that is identifying the limiting beliefs holding you back and the article below will give you guidance on how to do that for yourself.
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Achieve Your Goals and Get Rid Of Those Limiting Beliefs by Asking 3 Simple Questions
By Jovall J. Alingod | Dumb Little Man
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Dr. Friedemann Schaub, author of “The Fear & Anxiety Solution” (Sounds True Publications, 2012), states that one of the biggest causes of fear and anxiety that surrounds our daily lives is self-limiting beliefs.
These core beliefs define the rules and regulations that individuals create for themselves and are responsible for impacting the way a person thinks and acts. These core beliefs can form an important strength for personal development or can prove to be a barrier for growth.
Limiting beliefs impact our routine-decision making, although many people might not even be aware of these beliefs. For example, many people believe that they will be unable to learn to touch type or type with speed and efficiency, just because they have always used a slower method. Years of habit can mean that this belief is deep-rooted within their minds, and it therefore becomes an obstacle in achieving this particular goal.
Such limiting beliefs arise from our subconscious minds and are often unquestioned. Many people just accept their inability to do a particular job simply because of their beliefs and this results in an inability to achieve self-actualization. Without limitations, a person has the ability to realize their true potential.
It is often difficult to identify the self-limiting beliefs that create a hindrance towards achieving goals and objectives. The beliefs become engrained in our daily lives and it is often difficult to accept them as a limiting belief. Rather, people simply tend to accept failure or their inability to perform a task. Dr. Friedemann Schaub suggests that asking the following questions can allow individuals to identify the self-limiting beliefs that are present within the subconscious.
1. Questioning Your Childhood
You must try and ascertain certain patterns within your childhood that might have resulted in the limiting beliefs. Questioning your relationship with your parents, siblings, peers and teachers will help you identify certain incidents that might have impacted your beliefs. For example, did you have a happy life at home? Were you bullied by children at school? Was there rivalry between you and your siblings? You must answer these questions and connect incidents to the beliefs that have developed as a consequence and which continue to impact your adult life.
2. Questioning your Present Life
You must question your present life and identify current thought patterns. This can be done by understanding the underlying themes in your negative self-talks. These talks can indicate limiting beliefs such as insecurity or failure that plays a part in your life. Often an individual is able to identify friends peers or other relatives that might be triggering the limiting beliefs.
3. Questioning Your Ability to Break The Limiting Beliefs
If you are ready to get rid of limiting beliefs you must initially ask yourself about the consequences that will come about as a result of your decision. You must derive a course of action that will allow you to achieve the goals and project what will happen when you fail or succeed.
For example, an individual that believes that they will never be able to touch type simply because they are not comfortable working with a computer must initially select a course of training that will guide them on how to become a touch typist, including basic computer skills. This person must also understand that achieving the goal will require time and effort and despite the failure or slow progress it is important to understand that the attempt was made. Keep in mind that even if you do not succeed the first time, there is a high probability that you will succeed the next time, if you are determined.
Limiting beliefs often become the identity of an individual as they are reinforced through ongoing actions and thoughts. As Dr. Friedemann Schaub highlighted, these beliefs can only be released when the past is explored and attachments are identified. Limiting beliefs often create a tunnel-vision view of the world that results in low levels of energy and self-esteem. It is important to break out of this vicious cycle so that you achieve your desired goals with ease.
