Limitations are obstacles or barriers that we cannot seem to overcome. The limitation may be caused by something physical, like a fence, something emotional, like a fear, or something mental, like a lack of understanding or knowledge. The fact of the matter is that the perceived limitation is in the belief that, that which is limiting us is insurmountable. These limiting beliefs keep us from reaching our potential and living the life of our dreams.

Most of our limiting beliefs are not even our own. They were taught to us by our parents, teachers, friends, bosses etc. Have you ever notices how children seem to be free of fear (other than the dark and what’s under the bed)? They want to try everything. Children do not know what we think is possible or impossible. They think they can do anything. It is not until we start teaching them that they are good at this and no good at that or that something is impossible, that they develop fear of accomplishing their dreams.

Limiting beliefs are a construction of your mind. They form your identity which is what you believe to be you. All the things that you think make you who you are, are the things you think, feel or do. They are constructions of your mind based on your past experiences, what you have done and how you have felt about it.

Who you really are is far more amazing than the mind could ever possibly conceive. No construction of your mind could ever come close to describing the beauty and brilliance of your true self. So when it comes to making up a story about your identity and what it means to be you, why don’t you take a little time to write a really wonderful story where you are a hero who is successful at everything you want to do.

Start by identifying a limiting belief. The best thing to do here is to dream about how you would like your life to look with no restrictions. If you were going to get whatever you asked for, what would it be? As soon as your mind offers an objection, you’re on to a limiting belief.

Take some time to explore that objection and figure out how you tell yourself why you cannot have your dream. The belief probably starts with: “I can’t___”, “I’m not___”, “I don’t have___", “I’m not a person who___". Write the sentence that represents the limiting belief. Read it and discover how many places this limiting belief surfaces in your life.

What would life be like if you did not believe this about yourself? Every time you catch yourself thinking about this limiting belief, first, remind yourself that it is not true. Second make a statement to yourself about something that you CAN do that would bring you even the tiniest step closer to what you think you cannot do or have. It just needs to be something like, “I am good at ___ and this will help me get what I want.” Maybe it is, “I can’t do this right now but I CAN do something else that will get me closer to having what I want.

It this way, the belief never stops you dead in your tracks. You are always doing something that gets you closer to what you want and you are taking power away from that limiting belief.

Do this for just one limiting belief and stay conscious of how it affects your life for 21 days. Make it a habit to watch where your thoughts do not support your growth. You will start to find more limiting beliefs but stay with the one until you always have a reason not to feel limited by it. Once you have eliminated one limiting belief you will find it easy to take care of the others.

Network entrainments can make you conscious about how these beliefs affect your physiology. Your posture, breathing and muscle tension change to represent your state when you believe something destructive about yourself. When you can notice this and change it physically, you take the energy away from the belief.

Take some time this week and figure out how you can replace a limiting belief with a more supportive and constructive thought. You will be amazed in the change in your attitude and demeanor!