Self-Limiting Thoughts
Self-Limiting Thoughts
Self-limiting thoughts are something that we all struggle with from time to time. They often arise at the worst possible moments too, like right when we’re about to do something that will take our lives forward into a better place.
For example, we rarely have self-limiting thoughts while we’re sunk into our couch flicking through streaming services. But, when we’re about to talk to someone new, give that presentation, or try a new skill, that self-limiting voice in our heads pulls out its bullhorn and starts shouting like it’s protesting our future happiness.
This is no accident. Our self-limiting thoughts are a twisted kind of self-protection. When we’re about to go into unfamiliar territory, it stops us dead in our tracks and makes us second-guess ourselves. By any means necessary. Of course, going straight at our confidence and self-worth is the best way to make us pause and turn to stone.
I tend to think this mechanism that lives in us was born from our earlier moments in evolution. Like when we were about to hop across a raging river, our mind would go “hold on there buddy, stop before you jump in and think for a minute to make sure this isn’t going to kill ya.”
In modern times, this has evolved from keeping us safe on a physical level to protecting us on a psychological one. So, when we’re about to go give that presentation, the same gears start spinning, and that voice goes “hey-hey-hey, think about what you’re about to do, are you sure you want to feel vulnerable? Is this dangerous?” And the anxiety and sheepish shrinking of our confidence kicks in.
Obviously, it’s good to be self-aware of what we’re about to get into. But it’s bad to let that protection mechanism keep us from moving forward and thriving in life. Understanding this is super helpful because it gives context to why those thoughts are arising and lets us work past them.
The next time you’re met with self-limiting thoughts, remember that they aren’t facts, they’re just signals trying to get you to pause and prepare. After you’ve put the thoughts in their place, remind yourself that you are capable, which is why you made it to a position to advance your life to begin with.
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I look forward to what you have to say, Cory. It’s good stuff!!
Much needed