Do you have any limiting beliefs?
At first, you might brush that thought away, thinking you don’t. However, we all have beliefs, both big and small that limit us. They limit our potential, what we choose to do and what we produce as a result. These beliefs come from a variety of things, including our parent’s beliefs and values, our upbringing, our nationality, culture, education and so much more. It’s often difficult to pinpoint a limiting belief, to acknowledge it and to restrain it. Once you realize your thought was just a limiting one and not a reality, then the way you do things and the way you see things will change.
<Story time>
Let me give you a small, yet significant example of a how a limiting belief held me back.
I used to take pictures professionally for family photo shoots and events. Most of these events took place at a church or party halls. Initially, I used to have the thought that I did not belong up in the front of the event taking pictures because I was a female. It wasn’t common for a female photographer to be up in front of the church taking pictures and well, it still isn’t. Because of this, I engraved in myself that I don’t deserve to be up there and that I won’t be as good as the male photographers. This specific belief came from my cultural and religious background and the idea and opinions of other people, which in return became instilled in me.
For my first main shoot, I was limiting myself with these thoughts and it showed in the work. After I was done with the shoot, I realized that it actually DIDN’T matter what other people thought. It didn’t matter that none of the other photographers were female. It didn’t matter if I felt people were constantly looking at me. After my first shoot, I realized that I didn’t even see anything beyond my clients and their event. The audience (or congregation) I took pictures of were just subjects in my frame and nothing else. Once I shifted that limiting belief mindset, it changed how I approached my events. I didn’t hide in the back or try to shoot from afar. I got up to the place I needed to be to get that perfect shot and I did my work like any man would have.
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This is just one small example of a minor, yet powerful limiting belief. These beliefs are not only applicable to women only; men have their own set of limiting beliefs as well. Others limiting beliefs may include things like “I’m too old, I’m not strong enough, I’m not pretty/good looking enough, I’m not educated, I am married, I am a mother” and so on. Yes, these are ALL limiting beliefs that we give ourselves that prevent us from doing something that we really want to. It doesn’t stop there. Limiting beliefs also affect what we wear, eat, say and even think! Some beliefs I hear often are that women MUST know how to cook well (and daily), men should not be in the kitchen.. and so on.
Call to Action:
Write down 2 limiting beliefs that you have. If you can’t think of it, what “reasons” are holding you back from doing what you want? Write those things down. Now think through these thoughts.
What is causing those limiting beliefs?
And realize that those beliefs are exactly what they are meant to be; limiting.
Check out my post on Making Believe here!
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