Rid Self-Limiting Beliefs & Reach Your True Potential

Are self-limiting beliefs keeping you from reaching your full potential?

Do they prevent you from living your happiest life?

I remember a moment when I was about eight years old. As I lay on the floor with my crayons and coloring book, blissfully making my newest, beautiful creation, my father came into the room. He bent down and in a very firm voice said,

“ALWAYS outline what you’re coloring, and STAY WITHIN THE LINES!”

By the tone of his voice, I knew I’d done something wrong. It was a powerful message for me.  Follow the rules. Stay within the lines, and you won’t get in trouble. 

For most of my life, I’ve struggled with attempts to live outside the box. Creativity, something I love and pursue, has been a challenge. It makes me wonder, what happens to that beautiful, blank canvas of your mind? To your unharnessed spirit? The one that at birth represented unlimited possibilities for self-expression in your life?

How does a lifetime of other’s voices, rules, conformity, and your perpetuation of the quiet agreement continue to choke hold you from your true self?

Eventually, I got angry about these limitations imposed on me, and my buying into it. I no longer wished to be in quiet agreement.  AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.

Here are signs that self-limiting beliefs might be ruling YOUR life:

• Feeling a lack of passion, excitement, and joy in your life; or a feeling that life is passing you by
• Self-defeating statements and beliefs such as, “I’m not good enough, talented enough, smart enough, or I’m too old,” play over and over in your head
• Symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Increased marital discord
• Fear of failure gets in your way
• You spend time regretting the things you wish you’d done

So how do YOU begin to break out of this long-held belief system?

It starts with awareness and an intention to change your life. And remember, you’re NEVER too old. You can start by:

• Challenging those old beliefs about yourself
• Deciding you won’t be defined by anyone’s opinion about you
• Identifying something you’ve always wanted to do
• Taking one baby step every week to pursue that something
• Breaking old habits
• Reading a genre of book, you’ve never read
• Trying new food. It might surprise you!
• Starting a journal where you can practice finding your authentic voice. (The one that refuses to be quiet anymore!)

It’s thought that fear is the culprit under our self-limiting beliefs. To truly be ourselves is to be vulnerable and be seen as we are. Dr. Brene Brown has researched and studied vulnerability. Click here to see Dr. Brené Brown’s 5 Life Lessons We All Need to Learn.

There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons. ~ Denis Waitley

How can you fail at being you? You are the only YOU there is. You are a one-of-a-kind. You are beautifully imperfect. Your life is the school of you: what will you learn, how will you grow, what chances will you take, what new things will you try?

SO, put yourself out there. Live unafraid. Be your unique and beautiful self without apology.

COLOR YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE LINES.