Limiting Beliefs List and How to Get Over Them

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What are limiting beliefs? Limiting beliefs are any belief or “truth” that you have that is self-limiting or that holds you back from becoming the best version of yourself.
 
We all have them, and of course, the most common limiting beliefs and empowering beliefs that we have inside of our heads greatly shape our behaviors.
 
One of the best ways to become aware of them is simply to see examples of them. That is why I wanted to create this limiting beliefs list. I want to give you some examples that you might be able to relate to, and then after I want to give you my own thoughts on how to have hope and how to get over those limiting beliefs.
 
We all know, this limiting beliefs list could be very long. But I wanted to narrow it down to the top challenges in life: limiting beliefs on belonging, money, and work.

To make our limiting beliefs list easier to navigate, here are some links:

limiting beliefs list

Limiting Beliefs List

Limiting Beliefs about Belonging

  • No one likes me
  • I never fit in
  • I’ll always be alone
  • There must be something wrong with me, that’s why no one likes me
  • I’m a burden on others
  • No one ever listens to me
  • I need people to like me
  • No one will accept the real me
  • Love must be earned
  • I need other people’s approval
  • I’m not funny
  • I’m not fun to be around
  • I’m hopeless
  • I’m always making mistakes
  • I wish I could be more like him/her, people always like them

Limiting Beliefs about Money

  • Money doesn’t grow on trees
  • The rich get richer and the poor get poorer
  • I should be happy with what I have
  • That costs too much
  • Money is bad
  • Money is not that important
  • I’m just not good with money
  • I wasn’t born rich, so I’ll never have enough money
  • You have to exchange happiness for making money
  • If you make a lot of money you don’t have time for your family
  • People who want a lot of money are selfish
  • Money is the root of all evil
  • I have to work really hard (too hard) if I want to make a lot of money
  • I have no control over my financial future
  • Money can’t buy happiness
  • It’s not right to be rich when other people don’t have enough
  • It takes money to make money
  • I’d have more money if the economy was better
  • To be wealthy, you have to take a lot of risks
  • People who have money got there by stepping on others
  • Money is hard to earn
  • Money demands sacrifice
  • I can’t afford it
  • You can’t get everything you want

Limiting Beliefs about Work

  • I’ll never make a living doing what I love
  • People don’t value the work I do
  • As an artist, I have to be struggling to really do good work
  • I’m not talented
  • I don’t have skills anyone wants
  • I’m not a team player
  • I’m not good enough
  • Companies are always trying to take advantage of their workers
  • I shouldn’t ask for a promotion, I don’t deserve it
  • No one wants to hire me
  • I don’t do well under pressure
  • I don’t have enough experience to apply for that position
  • I can’t handle big responsibility
  • Everyone else gets the chance to do what they love, but not me
  • I’ll never find the right job
  • I always have the worst bosses
  • My supervisor is horrible
  • Everyone expects too much of me
  • I never get the appreciation I deserve
  • Life isn’t fair
  • My co-workers don’t like me
limiting beliefs list together

Don’t forget, you are not alone, everyone is struggling…

All of us struggle with these thoughts and beliefs, that’s what makes us human.

One of the first things to keep in mind is that the limiting beliefs list above has shadows of what psychologists would call the reptilian brain. That instinct deep inside of our evolution that is always fearing the worst.

A long time ago, when humans were still finding their place on the food chain – there was always a chance that we could get eaten or attacked. Death was almost always lurking around the corner, so we were always on guard, forced to always be ready.

For example, thoughts like “I’ll never find the right job” is all about fear of the future. The fear of not being able to put food on the table or to fit into a group. A long time ago fitting in and working together with others was a key to survival. Strength in numbers helped us to overcome great odds and find more stability in life.

*Want help finding a job, check out some of the links we put up on our article Good and Bad Things About Technology

limiting beliefs list champion

One Strategy that Really Works to Fight Against Negative Thoughts

A long time ago, I had a discussion with a truly interesting and charismatic man named Eric. He had his share of adventures, had a great family, and built and sold a successful company. All before the age of 45 years old!

Speaking with Eric, I couldn’t imagine that he ever had any troubles or challenges because he had achieved so much and was so at ease as we spoke.

But, I was wrong!

He was human, he had moments in life where he felt totally lost, where he doubted himself and times when people tried to push him down. However, his way of dealing with these negative thoughts was really interesting, and it’s a technique I use every day now.

It’s extremely simple…

Think of what someone who you deeply respect, and who loves and supports you would say!

Instead of letting that negative voice in your head take over, “put” someone else in there that you know will give you better advice!

For example, when Eric was faced with the limiting belief of work. His own thoughts kept leading him back to the phrase, “I’m not good enough.” Inside of his own head, he just couldn’t escape that phrase coming back over and over again.

So Eric thought of someone who he knows valued him, his Grandmother. He thought of her smile, her face, and her voice when she would always tell him, “You’re great, you’re such a smart boy, I love you so much.”

He made sure that he stopped getting himself down, he put someone else in place that would help lift his spirits and who was ready to replace his limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs about self-worth and work.

I Need Your Help!!

Do you have something that you think we should add to our limiting beliefs list? Or do you have a great technique to fight away those negative thoughts?

Share your ideas in the comments below to help us make this an even better resource for people.

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