Are Self-Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back?

 “As A Man Thinks In His Heart, So Is He.” –Proverbs 23:7

I am always fascinated by the latest research about the brain.  Scientists are discovering more and more about this amazing creation of God!  We are learning that our minds are incredibly adaptable.  For years people believed that our mindset was fixed and unchanging, but we are now discovering that this belief was not true.  We can train our brain to have a positive growth mindset that can alter the way we think and respond to the circumstances of life.

One of the things that we can change is our self-limiting beliefs.  Self-limiting beliefs are the ones that hold you back from achieving your very best in life. These beliefs are often so ingrained that it takes time to learn how to recognize them. Here are some warning signs that what you’re thinking might actually be self-sabotage in disguise.

Self-Limiting Beliefs Are Negative

Self-limiting beliefs are always negative. It’s the voice in your head that lists all the reasons you won’t succeed. You may think negative comments like, “Who are you to do this? Nobody is interested in what you say. You’re too dumb to succeed. Everyone will laugh behind your back if you try to do this.”

You may not realize this but these negative thoughts are often a defense mechanism. You never have to try if you believe that you’re automatically going to fail and if you don’t try, then you don’t have to risk getting hurt or failing.

Self-Limiting Beliefs Encourage a Poverty Mindset

Often, self-limiting beliefs leave you stuck with a poverty mindset. This goes beyond finances and affects how you live your life. Your inner voice might say things like, “There’s only so much success to go around. I can’t get ahead.  I’ll never have more than I have right now.”

This type of poverty mindset keeps you fiercely guarding what’s “yours”. Not only does this keep you from growing, it keeps you trapped and unable to take risks or chances.  Your fear of failure keeps you from trying to advance in your career, so you remain in a place that you may hate.  Self-limiting beliefs limit your quality of life.

Self-Limiting Beliefs Paint You as a Victim

Self-limiting beliefs make you think you’re a victim. For example, you might think things like, “Success isn’t in my genes. I’m destined to be a loser. It doesn’t matter how hard I work – I still won’t be able to succeed.”

The problem with these thoughts is that they can convince you that you really are powerless. As a result, you don’t challenge your self-limiting beliefs. You stay stuck in the same place for months or even years, never realizing that the real problem was your mindset.

My Personal Experience

Often self-limiting beliefs begin developing in childhood.  I experienced a lot of verbal and emotional abuse as a child.  I was bullied and rejected by my peers, who called me names that tore down my self-confidence and destroyed my feelings of worth.  My father, who was a closet alcoholic, would often berate me and call me stupid (especially if I expressed an opinion contrary to his).

All of these things caused self-limiting beliefs to form in my brain.  I got saved during the Jesus Movement, but becoming a Christian didn’t instantly change those inner beliefs.  I still felt inferior to others, especially other men.  I was caught in the comparison trap, and I still felt insecure and incomplete.  As I’ve said before, my self-esteem and self image were so low you’d need a shovel to scrape them off the floor.

God began healing my mind and emotions, but it didn’t happen overnight.  It was a long and arduous process, and God brought many people into my life to help me find freedom.  But gradually my thoughts and beliefs began to change.  Lies that I had believed for so long were replaced with the truths of God’s Word. 

Kick Those Self-Limiting Beliefs To The Curb!

The Bible calls this renewing your mind.  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).  In order to find freedom from self-limiting beliefs, there are several steps you need to take:

1. Identify them as lies.  For example, my father had a bad habit of calling me stupid, and for a long time I accepted that as true.  But it wasn’t– it was a lie.  In reality, I was an A student.  I earned a B.A. in English and an M.S. in Elementary Education.  The truth is, I’m not stupid.  Once I confronted the lie, I could see and believe the truth.
2. Replace the lies with truth.  It is possible that once you’ve confronted the lie, it will be easy for you to see the truth, as in my example above.  But often self-limiting beliefs are attacks on your identity, so the best way to attack them is to turn to the Bible.  Find out what God has to say about you.  Believe me, He doesn’t agree with those self-limiting beliefs you have!

Scripture is full of accounts of people whose beliefs were radically transformed by an encounter with God.  Allow Him to change those negative thoughts into positive ones.  You’re not who others said you are– you are who God says you are.  He ought to know– He’s your Creator, you know!

Before my mind was renewed, I thought of myself as a loser.  But now, looking back on my life, I’m amazed at the things I’ve accomplished.  I never thought I’d be where I am now.  I’m living the transformed life!  That’s not to say I’ve “arrived,” though– I still see myself as a work in progress.  As Joyce Meyer says, “I’m not what I ought to be, I’m not what I want to be, but thank God I’m not what I used to be!”

Recognizing self-limiting beliefs does take time. When you find yourself focused on a self-limiting belief, counter it with a positive truth. Keep doing this and eventually, you’ll notice a shift in your mindset that will lead to a stronger and better life.  God did it for me, and He can do it for you, too!

Did you enjoy this post?  Leave a comment~ share on social media~ and subscribe!

Related Posts

“Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life”

“Negative Self-Talk, Or How To Grow Weeds”