Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs: The Lies We Tell Ourselves

You ever catch yourself thinking, I’m just not good at this or People like me don’t succeed in that? Yeah, same. We all have those sneaky little thoughts that keep us in our comfort zones, playing small, convincing ourselves that certain things just aren’t meant for us. These are limiting beliefs, and they shape our lives more than we realize. But here’s the wild part—most of them aren’t even true.

Where Do Limiting Beliefs Come From?

Limiting beliefs usually start as simple thoughts, often planted in childhood. Maybe a teacher told you, “You’re not a math person,” or a parent constantly worried about money, so you grew up believing financial success was out of reach. Society, culture, past failures—they all contribute to these subconscious rules we live by. And because our brains like being right, we unconsciously seek evidence to confirm these beliefs. If you believe you’re bad at relationships, you’ll notice every failure and ignore the times things actually worked. It’s a cycle—one that keeps us stuck.

How These Beliefs Hold Us Back

The biggest problem with limiting beliefs? They control your reality. If you believe you're bad at public speaking, you’ll avoid opportunities to practice. If you think you’re “just not the type of person” who can start a business, you won’t even try. If you assume success is only for people with special talents or connections, you’ll never put yourself in the right rooms. The result? You stay exactly where you are—not because you can’t do more, but because you’ve convinced yourself you shouldn’t even try.

How to Identify and Challenge Limiting Beliefs

So how do you break free? The first step is awareness. Start paying attention to the narratives running in your head. What do you tell yourself when faced with a challenge? Write it down. Once you spot a limiting belief, question it like a detective: Is this actually true? Where did I learn this? Have I ever seen evidence that proves the opposite? Then, flip the script. Instead of “I’m not good at this,” try “I’m learning this, and I can get better.” Instead of “I’ll never be successful,” try “Plenty of people have figured this out—why not me?”

Reprogramming Your Mindset

Overcoming limiting beliefs isn’t just about recognizing them—it’s about rewiring your brain. Here’s how: 1. Surround Yourself with Expanders – Find people who’ve broken past similar beliefs and learn from them. Their success proves it’s possible. 2. Take Small, Bold Actions – Confidence comes from doing. Start small, build momentum, and prove to yourself that your old beliefs were wrong. 3. Reaffirm New Beliefs Daily – Write them down. Say them out loud. Keep them visible until they feel normal.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, most of our limits are self-imposed. And the best part? That means we can break them. The more you challenge your beliefs, the more you’ll realize that most of them were never real in the first place. So next time you catch yourself thinking, I can’t, ask yourself—Says who? Because chances are, the only person stopping you… is you.