Identify and Diffuse Limiting Beliefs in 3 Simple Steps

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

“Personal growth and increased confidence take place when we are testing the limits of our lives.” Inventor, Thomas Payne

One of my favorite metaphors is to compare our comfort zone to the age rings found on a cross section of a tree trunk.

Think of it this way…

Every time we stretch our comfort zone it’s like we have a new age ring, we have a new level of awareness, we have greater self-esteem, we have more confidence, we are more experienced and we have more wisdom. We have grown.

And as a result of this growth we make different decisions, become open to new opportunities (often ones that were always there we just couldn’t see them yet!) and are faced with new obstacles too.

For example, limiting beliefs that were previously irrelevant now rise to the surface.

This can be good or bad depending on our ability to identify the limiting beliefs and regain momentum in spite of them. This is a skill that is essential for long-term success.

So, how do you identify limiting beliefs and diffuse their negative impact?

The best strategy I’ve found is to create “CONTRAST”.

First, you have to be crystal clear about your definition of success.

This gets your inner voice chattering and providing commentary that become the contrast you need to weed out your limiting beliefs.

Next, you have to pay close attention to your self-talk, best known as your inner critic (statistics say 80% of our self-talk is negative – yikes!).

Your self-talk provides clues to the truth of your belief system – good or bad.

Finally, you have to choose which beliefs you’ll keep and which limiting beliefs you’ll let go.

Yup, I said “choose”.

We can choose our beliefs. If a belief doesn’t support your success… let it go or replace it with one that does.

Does your belief system support or sabotage your success?

Consider these two questions to test if limiting beliefs may be keeping you stuck or struggling…

1. Are you NOT doing things that you know you should be doing to support your success and are frustrated to feel stuck this way?

2. Are you doing things you know you shouldn’t be doing that sabotage your success and wonder why you keep doing them?

If you’ve answered yes to either question, you’re not alone.

Our beliefs influence our thoughts, dictate our habits, affect our decisions and ultimately create our results/reality.

And if your belief system is fueled predominantly by limiting beliefs it’s one of the biggest reasons why your results may be falling short of your goals.

So let’s recap the 3-step process to identify and diffuse limiting beliefs:

1. Define what success means to you (and why).

2. Listen to the feedback of your inner voice (especially the negative resistance to what you’ve declared that you really want).

3. Choose beliefs that support your success.

“Belief is the bridge between our dreams and dreams come true.” ~ Gina Bell

~ Gina Bell
Freedom Catalyst
+ Internet Marketing Strategist