How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs & Live Your Best Life
Going Beyond
What Are Limiting Beliefs & How Do They Affect Our Lives?
Limiting beliefs are deeply rooted stereotypes that we have about ourselves. They are often the result of having been told we can't do something or we don't deserve to do something. These beliefs usually lead us to feel unworthy and less than others, which in turn affects our perception of ourselves and how we live our life.
Limiting beliefs usually come from childhood and might be the result of what your parents thought you could not do, or what society told you were not capable of achieving because of your gender, age, race, religion, etc.
How to identify your limiting beliefs?
It is important that you identify these limiting beliefs about yourself so that you can start working on letting them go and overcoming them.
Limiting beliefs can be both big and small, such as thoughts of inadequacy or feeling threatened by others' achievements. Some people have a fear of success some people have a fear of failure, but we all need to identify the belief. Your journal can be a place where you can write down your thoughts, feelings, and memories. The process of writing them down can be very therapeutic and help you identify your beliefs. It’s a way to express yourself and get things off your chest and out your mind. In the process of writing, we should be looking for anything that makes us feel guilty or ashamed. If we find any self-defeating thoughts or feelings then those are likely our limiting beliefs.
How to Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs?
To transcend from limiting beliefs, you need to challenge them. We typically limit our beliefs because we fear the repercussions of stepping outside of the box. If you want to break free from your limiting beliefs, start by challenging your own thoughts.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said,
"If you aren't scared, there is no such thing as courage. If you are only a little scared, it is just natural. But if you are very scared, then you are brave."
This quote shows that being brave is not the same as being fearless. It takes courage to be honest with yourself about what scares you and how to face it head-on.
How Can We go About Challenging Our Limiting Beliefs?
"Challenging your limiting beliefs is not just about telling yourself that you can do it – it is about proving yourself wrong."
Identify the negative thoughts you wrote down in your journal, that triggered the negativity. Once you have identified it- write it down on a notecard or post-it note. The next step is writing down a positive thought that you would prefer to have as an alternative response. Carry this card with you and whenever you find yourself thinking negatively - replace your thought with the positive one on your card until this becomes a habit. You can also challenge your beliefs by writing them down on paper and then writing how it affects your life. Then use affirmations and evidence that challenges your limiting beliefs. If you think about it, this process is like solving a puzzle - you identify what you don't want and then replace it with something more desirable.
It's important to get deep into these limiting beliefs and identify the one that is stopping you right now. Once you know what your limiting belief is, you can challenge it.
After overcoming these limiting beliefs, you can achieve anything you want. We will be able to see the world in a new light and find solutions to your problems.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from max and writers in Motivation and other communities.
The Art of Allowing Yourself to Fail in Order to Succeed
The Need to Fail in Order to Succeed, Why do People Fear Failure? There is no such thing as a perfect person. And there is no such thing as a perfect idea. A few failures on your road to success will help you learn and grow into an independent and resilient person.
By max4 years ago in Motivation
“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khan6 days ago in Motivation
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.