Limiting Beliefs: An Outside idea

The elephant’s rope

A man was walking through a zoo when he noticed an elephant tethered by a tiny rope. It amazed him that the elephant didn’t just pull itself free, so he approached one of the workers and asked.

The worker said that the elephants were secured with the same bit of rope since childhood. They could never break free as children, and they grew up believing that the rope was unbreakable. A limiting belief!

Imagine how many things we subconsciously hold back from because we’ve been wired to believe that’s just the way things are and they could never change? How many ropes are holding you back? And how can you untether yourself?

Limiting beliefs in business

As business owners, we sometimes have similar limiting beliefs that hold us back from things that we’d like to do. 

1. Fear of failure

Did you know that more than 90% of startups fail?

Many times, successful entrepreneurs are those who have tried and failed, used their mistakes as lessons and started again.

So don’t be afraid to fail. It’s part of the entrepreneurial journey. Remember, failure is part of success. When you do fail, pick up the lessons as fast as possible and move on.

It could be said that when you have this limiting belief, you’re playing not to lose, not playing to win. These sorts of feelings can make us fearful of taking risks (however calculated).

2. Comparison

It’s hard, if not impossible, to avoid comparing yourself to others.

But here’s one thing about life and specifically business. There will always be another business similar to yours that’s doing better than you. But there will never be a business exactly like yours.

Sometimes we can shield ourselves by only making decisions and taking actions that have worked for us or other people in the past. This is limiting because it stops us from trying new things.

So always remember that no matter how many people are doing it better than you, they can never be you and that is your power.

3. Impostor syndrome

“I’m not doing good enough”

“I should be further along”

“I have to be perfect”

As a business owner, you will probably have these thoughts at one point or the other in life.  And if there’s anything that I know for certain, it’s that THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS.

If you think you’re not doing good enough, you’ll actually not do good enough.

So how do you deal with impostor syndrome? First, understand that you’re not alone (loads of people have it). Talk to someone about it, and remember and be proud of your achievements.

What can you do about limiting beliefs?

1. Identify what your limiting beliefs are:

Do you have a rope that’s holding you back? Is there something or multiple things holding you back? If there is more than one, start with the biggest, or the one that is having the most impact on your life.’

You know what they say, acceptance is the first stage? You can’t solve an issue if you’re not willing to accept it.

Once you’ve identified them, it becomes much easier to think up a way forward. You’ll now be more conscious to stop yourself from these limiting beliefs.

2. Think of solutions

What could you do to untether yourself from it? 

Look at it squarely. Don’t be intimidated by it. Recognise that it’s just a belief. Understand it, and how it became so ingratiated within you. Question it – when did it become part of you? Is it factual? Have you always thought about this? Is it helping you?

3. Challenge this belief.

What would you do if you couldn’t fail? Challenge the self-limiting belief. What would your life be without this limiting belief? What could you do? Picture your life without limiting beliefs.

4. Learn new tricks

Finally, change your mindset to a new belief. Once you’ve identified what it is that’s holding you back, you can put strategies in place to change your perception. Start small, work on it. If exercise is a limiting belief of yours, start with small regular workouts. 

If you keep putting off sorting your books out, put a default diary in place to help you tackle them one step at a time. And make yourself accountable.

5. Use positive affirmations

Your inner voice is important. And what you tell yourself subconsciously can translate into reality. If you want to change the way you think, it’s important that you replace these beliefs with affirmations.

One great way of doing affirmations is to verbally speak to yourself in the mirror. You say it out loud and believe wholeheartedly in the things that you’re saying.

Some examples of affirmations are:

“I am good enough. I belong here.”

“My business is a huge success”

“I believe in myself and trust in my abilities to succeed in all that I do.”

“Success, money and happiness come easily and naturally to me.”

“I will achieve all the goals that I have set for myself in business.”

One app that you can use is “I am”, available on both Android and Apple. Once you install it on your phone, it comes with a bunch of beautiful affirmations that can help you gain confidence in business.

How does accountability help improve performance and resolve your limiting beliefs?

Many don’t realise, but accountability is the single most important thing to truly fuel success. Why?

Accountability to others makes you take ownership of a task. It means you have to step up and take responsibility. It means you’re going to do a great job, on time, every time – if you don’t you’ll have to explain why. You’ll set time bound expectations that you have to live up to. It makes your goals, which were perhaps just sat with you (probably in your head), bigger, it gives them a larger purpose, with a certainty that they’ll be fulfilled.

If you could do with a dose of accountability to keep you on track, get in touch – or why not try one of our Mastermind Group taster sessions. Here you will see the true power of a Mastermind, and how with a sense of teamwork, support, encouragement, and yes accountability, you can eradicate these limiting beliefs and achieve the success you want.

Summary

In conclusion, you need to start identifying your limiting beliefs and how they are holding you back from prosperity.

Once you’ve identified them, the 5 things you can do about them are:

1. Identify what your limiting beliefs are

2. Think of solutions

3. Challenge this belief

4. Learn new tricks

5. Use positive  affirmations

Onwards and upwards my friend,

Px