Your Beliefs Can Stop Your Success

Have you ever thought, “I can’t...!” or “I’m not good enough!”? If so, you’ve probably experienced negative self-talk that stops people from achieving their goals. Most people have, at one time or another, felt like something they desired to do was unachievable simply because they didn’t believe in themselves enough to even make an attempt. This is a common problem because it can be challenging to recognize the negative self-talk that we all experience. Many people don’t even realize they’re doing it, making it much harder to change their behavior. The good news is that once you become aware of how these thoughts affect your life, you have the power to change them.

The “I can’t...” Lie

The “I can’t...” lie is one of the most common self-limiting beliefs that people hold on to. It’s a very sneaky way to keep yourself stuck in a rut because it sounds so reasonable and logical—after all, who wants to do something they believe they can’t do?

“I can’t...” is such a common phrase. It’s often said when someone is facing a challenge, when someone is afraid of failing, when someone is (unknowingly) fearful of success, or sometimes just because someone doesn’t want to change. Thinking and saying the words “I can’t...” creates a barrier that prevents you from trying something new or challenging yourself to try something new. If you believe you can’t, then you won’t. And if you don’t try, how will you ever know? The “I can’t...” lie is a classic example of self-sabotage—when we tell ourselves we can’t do something because of our past experiences and beliefs. We may have had bad experiences in the past that shaped our beliefs about ourselves, or we may simply be repeating what someone else has told us repeatedly (such as parents or teachers).

It’s important to be careful with what messages your brain hears—even if they come from you! Your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between a thought that came from outside of yourself and one that came from inside—it just records them all as truth and processes them accordingly.

What’s going on in your mind when you say that?

When you say, “I can’t,” what’s going on in your mind? Your brain is telling you things like:

• You’re not good enough.
• You can’t do it.
• You are not worthy of this opportunity.

Your beliefs about yourself can limit you and keep you from being successful. When you think negative thoughts about yourself, you are not using the full power of your mind. These limiting thoughts can keep you from reaching your potential, but they don’t have to.

You must believe in yourself and your abilities, not just for yourself but for everyone who relies on you. If you want to reach your full potential and achieve your dreams—it all starts with believing in yourself.

Your beliefs are influenced by your past experiences.

Very often, limiting beliefs form in childhood. They’re usually shaped by observing your family, society, environment, and experiences before age 7. Because most limiting beliefs have been a part of what you believe for so long, it’s important to realize they are not based on reality. They are simply thoughts that have been repeated so many times that they have become ingrained in your mind. For example, if you grew up in a family that didn’t believe in education, it may be difficult for you to believe in yourself as an educated person. If someone made fun of your dreams or told you they were impossible, it will be hard to believe they are possible.

Although you don’t create these beliefs about yourself, you are responsible for dealing with them once they have been identified. The first step to doing this is to become aware of the thoughts that are limiting you and stopping you from going after what you truly desire, so you can start to understand why they exist and how they impact your life.

As you become aware of these beliefs, you must understand that they are not facts. They are simply ideas that have been programmed into your mind by other people or yourself over time. The next step is to replace these limiting beliefs with empowering ones that support you in reaching your goals and dreams.

You may have heard the saying, “We can create our own reality.” This means that you are responsible for your thoughts and actions and how they affect your life. Your beliefs about yourself can significantly impact what happens in your life. If you believe you will succeed at something, it is more likely to occur than if you don’t believe in yourself or your abilities.

Other beliefs that can keep you stuck.

A faulty belief system is based on thoughts that make you feel like something is impossible, difficult, or time-consuming.

These beliefs include:

• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I don’t have time to do this.”
• “I don’t deserve success.”
• “I can’t start a business.”
• “It’s not safe for me to make changes in my life.”
• “It will take too long, and I won’t get it done right.”
• “It hasn’t worked before, so it won’t work now.”

If you believe these things about yourself and your life, it’s easy to feel discouraged and give up before even trying. These beliefs can be especially damaging because they hold you back from taking action—the most crucial part of achieving anything.

Beliefs are the acceptance that something is true or that something exists, nothing more. They are not facts, they are not truths, and they certainly aren’t reality. If you believe you aren’t good enough to succeed in your career or your finances, your actions will reflect this belief. If someone says, “you can do it!” but you don’t believe them, your actions will likely reflect the belief that “you can’t do it” because it’s all about what YOU believe.

The good news is that you can change your beliefs! If you have a negative thought about yourself that doesn’t serve you, it’s time to create a new one! You are the only person who can make this happen - no one else can do it for you.

The trick is to change the message.

So how do you change your beliefs? How can you go from not believing in yourself to having confidence and certainty that you deserve success, abundance, and happiness?

You need a new message that makes you feel good about yourself. And a new belief that will allow you to create a new reality. You will need clarity on what you want in your life and then focus on it daily. You also need to be willing to let go of old beliefs that may be holding you back from getting what you want out of life.

You can do this by changing your thoughts and words, then changing your actions and habits. You’ll find that changing these things will also bring about a change in your beliefs and life.

There are many ways to change your beliefs: meditation, journaling, talking to friends, family members, or a therapist about what’s holding you back from being your best self —these are just a few examples. You must find what works best for you to make lasting changes in your life. It may take some time before you start seeing the results you want, but the more consistent you are, the sooner you will begin to experience the changes you want to see in your life.

Remember that the first step is always the most difficult one, but once you take that step, it will get easier.

Your mind will believe whatever you keep telling it.

Your mind is a powerful tool. It can be a friend or foe, but it will do whatever you tell it to do. If you keep telling yourself negative things, your mind will believe them. If you keep telling yourself positive thoughts, your mind will begin to accept them. Be aware of your thoughts about yourself and how those thoughts impact your daily life.

In order for your mind to thrive, you have to be willing and open-minded enough to receive new information about yourself so that your thoughts will change to support your new beliefs. The more you tell yourself that you are worthy, capable, and deserving of good things in life, the more your mind will believe it. You have to be willing to open your mind to new information and perspectives so that it can change from its current state. It will be a process and worth the time and effort that you invest in yourself to discover your ability to be successful. Don’t expect to make changes overnight. Be diligent about taking action every day and be patient with yourself and persistent so that you will see positive results over time.

You can do many things to help your mind thrive, such as meditation, exercise, and being mindful of your thoughts. However, the most important thing is to be aware of what you are telling yourself and how that impacts your daily life. Remember this quote: “The mind is a powerful tool.” If used correctly, it can be your greatest asset; but if you ignore your day-to-day thoughts, then this same mind can become your greatest enemy.

Pay attention to your thoughts.

As you begin the journey to discover your limiting beliefs and uncover the origination of those beliefs, it will be important to pay attention to your thoughts. Be aware that the old beliefs won’t just disappear because you are creating new ones. They will likely creep up when you begin feeling good about yourself or when you start feeling confident. It’s important to recognize these thoughts as they come up and then let them go.

Changing your thoughts means being aware of the things you say to yourself. Listen to what’s going on in your mind and be conscious of it. As you become more aware of your thoughts, you will be able to see how they are affecting your life. If you hear yourself saying things like “I can’t do that” or “I don’t deserve this,” it’s time to let those thoughts go and replace them with new ones. Eventually, all the positive thoughts will overpower the negative ones, and you will find yourself feeling happier and more confident.

You will know when a new thought has replaced an old one because you will feel different about yourself. You will start feeling good about who you are and what you can accomplish. You will begin to change your life, one thought at a time.

If you feel stuck in life, it could have something to do with what you believe about yourself. Take a moment now to reflect on your beliefs about yourself. If they hold you back from doing things that will help you grow and succeed, change them! It may seem daunting, but the results will be priceless. Remember: The only way out of your current situation is to go through it!

If you are ready for change, then start today by changing your beliefs about yourself. Begin by identifying one limiting belief that is holding you back. Then, write down an opposite belief that will help move you forward. It can be as simple as “I am intelligent” or “I am successful” - whatever works for you! Repeat the new belief repeatedly until it becomes your new truth. You might initially feel silly saying these things out loud, but keep doing it until you start to believe them. This will help you create a new reality for yourself. You will begin to feel more positive about yourself, allowing you to attract better things into your life.

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If you are wondering whether your thoughts are holding you back from reaching success, take the assessment to find out.  Are You Stopping Your Success? Assessment