If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “That’s just not possible for me,” you’re not alone. Most of us walk around with limiting beliefs — mental barriers shaped by our environment, upbringing, and even the negative thoughts that dominate our minds daily.
Belief drives outcomes. If you believe something will happen, you increase the possibility of it coming to fruition. For example, if your goal is to hit an ambitious sales number, it serves you to believe you’ll make it instead of convincing yourself pre-emptively that you’ll fall short.
But what are limiting beliefs, and how do they develop? More importantly, how can you overcome limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones? We’ll dive deep into what self-limiting beliefs are, explore their impact on your life, and provide actionable strategies for overcoming them.
What Are Limiting Beliefs?
Limiting beliefs are silent saboteurs that hold us back from achieving our dreams. These beliefs — shaped by negative thoughts, life experiences, and ingrained defense mechanisms — are often accepted as absolute truths, even though they’re not. They quietly shape how you see the world, define your comfort zone, and dictate what you believe is possible.
Many of our beliefs weren’t shaped consciously. They came from conditioning — things we were told, experiences we’ve had, or environments we grew up in. Add in a constant stream of negative thoughts (according to some studies, as many as 80% of the thoughts we have per day), and we develop limiting beliefs that hold us back.
Examples of Common Limiting Beliefs
“I am not an entrepreneur.”
This was a deeply held belief I owned for a long time. Through my own life experiences, conditioning, limited understanding and fear of failure I convinced myself that I simply wasn’t cut out to start a business. I clung to that internal version of myself and I suppose it afforded some false sense of security and a way to rationalize my decision to stay the course.
I was also very wrong. As my own dream beckoned I finally summoned the courage to answer the call and take my shot.
Limiting beliefs are deeply rooted convictions that restrict your potential and prevent you from achieving your goals. They often sound like internal whispers of doubt:
- “I’m not smart enough to succeed.”
- “I can’t trust people.”
- “It’s too late for me to change careers.”
- “I’m not good with money.”
- “I don’t have the skills to start a business.”
- “Relationships always end badly.”
- “I’ll never be good at public speaking.”
These negative beliefs often masquerade as truth but are, in fact, shaped by external factors, such as past experiences, societal conditioning, or fear of failure. They create mental barriers that prevent you from stepping out of your comfort zone and pursuing your dreams.
Why Do We Develop Limiting Beliefs?
Limiting beliefs don’t appear out of nowhere. They are often a product of several factors:
- Negative Thoughts: The average person has thousands of thoughts daily, and an overwhelming majority of them tend to be negative. This negativity bias is a survival mechanism, but it also leads us to dwell on fears, doubts, and failures.
- Life Experiences: Past failures or disappointments can leave emotional scars that shape how we perceive our capabilities. For example, if a business venture didn’t succeed in the past, you might believe you’re not cut out for entrepreneurship.
- Conditioning: Many beliefs stem from what we were taught as children. Statements like “Money doesn’t grow on trees” or “Don’t take risks” can become deeply ingrained truths that limit your thinking.
- Defense Mechanisms: Sometimes, limiting beliefs act as shields that protect us from potential pain or failure. For instance, convincing yourself that you’re not talented enough to apply for a promotion prevents the risk of rejection — but it also holds you back from growth.
The Impact of Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs don’t just hold you back. They actively shape how you see the world, interact with others, and pursue opportunities.
For example, a belief like “I can’t trust people” might prevent you from forming deep, meaningful relationships. This belief often stems from past betrayals or conditioning, but it causes you to put up walls and miss out on valuable connections.
Similarly, professional limiting beliefs, such as “I’ll never be good at sales,” can stop you from pursuing opportunities that could lead to growth and success.
The good news? Limiting beliefs aren’t permanent. With awareness and effort, you can replace them with empowering beliefs that open doors instead of closing them.
How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs
Overcoming limiting beliefs requires intentional effort and a willingness to challenge the narratives you’ve accepted as truth.
One of the biggest hurdles in overcoming limiting beliefs is recognizing that they aren’t absolute truths. Beliefs are just thoughts you’ve repeated enough to feel certain about. When you challenge these “truths,” you create room for growth and new possibilities.
Here are a few of my favorite tactics to break free of their hold.
Write Down Your Dream
Big or small, personal or professional, get clear on what you want. Putting your dream into words gives it shape and makes it feel real — like something you can work toward, not just a vague hope.
Identify Your Limiting Beliefs
Ask yourself what you really believe about this dream. What are the thoughts that pop up when you imagine going for it? Go further and consider where these thoughts, feelings and beliefs come from? Recognizing the origin of these thoughts and feelings associated with them is the first step to dismantling them.
The first step to overcoming limiting beliefs is recognizing them. Take some time to reflect on the thoughts holding you back. Ask yourself:
- What do I believe about myself, my abilities, or my goals?
- Where did these beliefs come from?
- Are they based on absolute truths, or are they shaped by fear or past experiences?
Flip the Script
Replace that limiting belief with an empowering one. This isn’t about lying to yourself; it’s about finding a belief that feels aspirational but achievable. Use the word yet to keep the door open for possibility and growth.
I like to use the word “yet” to reframe my thinking:
- “I’m not an entrepreneur… yet.”
- “I haven’t hit my fitness goals… yet.”
- “I’m not a great public speaker… yet.”
This small shift in language creates a powerful sense of possibility.
Visualize the Possibilities
Visualization helps rewire your brain, quieting doubts and reinforcing positive beliefs. It also helps to write this down. Close your eyes and imagine yourself living that dream. Picture the sights, sounds, and emotions as vividly as possible.
For instance, if your goal is to break a sales record, visualize the moment you achieve it — celebrating with your team, feeling proud, and receiving recognition.
Take One Bold Step Today
Dreams don’t materialize overnight, but progress happens when you act. Decide on one thing you can do right now — something small but meaningful — that moves you closer to your dream.
For example:
- If you want to write a book, start by drafting an outline or writing for 10 minutes a day.
- If you want to improve your fitness, schedule a workout or prepare a healthy meal.
Each small step builds momentum and reinforces the belief that you are capable of achieving your dreams.
Shift Your Belief, Shift Your Reality
Limiting beliefs are powerful, but they’re not permanent. They’re shaped by negative thoughts, life experiences, and societal conditioning — but they can be rewritten. By identifying, challenging, and replacing these beliefs, you can overcome self-limiting barriers and unlock your full potential.
Do you have a dream still waiting for you to chase? Maybe it’s personal, like traveling to Italy or learning to play guitar. Or maybe it’s professional, like scaling your business or smashing a sales record.
We’re all likely familiar with the refrain: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Wrong. You’re far more likely to see what you want when you start to believe it first. So take a page from the Josh Linkner playbook of empowerment and embody the knowing that “I’ll see it when I believe it.”
So, what limiting belief will you rewrite today? Step out of your comfort zone, adopt empowering beliefs, and take one bold step toward the life you deserve.
Limiting beliefs prevent growth by framing your potential within a box of doubt and fear. But recognizing them is the first step toward freedom and creating meaningful change in your life.
