Are Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back?

When was the last time you said to yourself

I’m not good at (fill in the blank) 

or

I’ll never be ready for (fill in the blank)

or

I’m too inexperienced to (fill in the blank)

or

I’ll never succeed at (fill in the blank)

or

I’m too fat/thin/old/young to (fill in the blank)

or

I’m not smart/thin/pretty/enough to (fill in the blank)

or

I could never do that!!!

You know what all those statements are?

They are limiting beliefs.

They are things you have convinced yourself to be true.

But they aren’t.

You know how I know?

Because whatever that thing you say you can’t do is, somebody has done it.

And if someone else has done it, then you can do it, too.

The only reason you haven’t found a way to do it is because you are placing limits on your potential.

We all have potential. We were all born with strengths and weaknesses.

That person that figured out a way to do what you haven’t figured out how to do (yet)?

They have weaknesses! They aren’t flawless!

They just didn’t listen to those limiting voices in their heads. They didn’t convince themselves that (fill in the blank) was impossible for them.

They just went for it.

Many of these limiting beliefs come from fear.

Fear of failing.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of being vulnerable.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of being uncomfortable.

They also come from comparing ourselves to other people.

They did it sooner/better/faster than I did.

And so very often we allow those limiting beliefs to (mis)direct the course of our lives.

I recently registered for a half IronMan triathlon in Atlantic City in September.

It is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run, and it’s three days before my 50th birthday.

I’ve done a few sprint triathlons (two last summer) and two Olympic distance triathlons (1 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 6 mile run) one five years ago when I was about the heaviest I’d ever been, but I’ve never done a half IronMan before. I have hardly been in the water in the last year, I am not in good running shape, nor am I a fast runner.

Seriously.

I’m not one of those people who says they aren’t fast but are really super fast. I super average.

Plus I’m about thirty pounds heavier than I should be, and I’m almost 50 years old.

I could say I’m too fat and I’m too old too and I’m too slow to attempt a half IronMan.

But those would be limiting beliefs.

I have no idea what to expect.

I won’t be a contender for first place.

I won’t set any records with my blazing speed.

I have no idea if I will even finish.

But dammit, I am gonna try!

I am not immune to limiting beliefs.

There are things that I have not made into realities in my life.

And you know why?

Mostly because I still have limiting beliefs about myself.

So I’m not immune.

But I am much better about catching those thoughts before they spiral out of control.

And I work to turn them around.

So this is my reminder to you.

DO NOT LET LIMITING BELIEFS STOP YOU FROM DOING ANYTHING.

The first thing you need to do is make yourself aware of what your limiting beliefs are.

Then, talk to yourself the way you would talk to your children.

If there is something you want to do, you can find a way to do it.

It won’t be easy.

It will take work.

It will be a struggle at times.

But you know what they say…

The greater the struggle, the greater the glory.

Whatever it is you want to become a reality in your life, there is only one thing standing in your way.

You.

So get out of your own way.

And start making that sh*t happen.

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