Limiting Beliefs vs. Empowering Beliefs
The titled adage may sound like an age old war, but you don
What we believe in, and what we accept to be correct and true; are what determines whether we succeed or fail at the goals we set for ourselves.
The Beliefs We Hold About Ourselves
Our mental make up is the sacred stone our entire being depends on for survival. When this is relentlessly attacked, we find it nigh on impossible to recover; unless we have set up some sort of defence.
This defence, is a mental barrier that gives us the ability to wade off any incoming strikes from evil perpetrators. Or as I and many others love to call them – ‘energy vampires’.
Simply put, it’s what we believe about ourselves that determines whether we ‘survive’ or not.
How can one succeed when they don’t believe in themselves? Why should people believe in me, have faith in me and trust me – when I can’t do so for myself? What reason have I presented to them in order to obtain that belief or trust?
These are the kind of questions I would ask myself in the past to reason and argue with my negative self. They enable me to look at my situation many times over, searching for another route to overcome what’s in front of me.
Most of us gain new beliefs from our environment. Our environment is like a viral network of interconnected hotspots that constantly feed us information. The media, our schools, parents and our friendship groups in particular, swap and share an infinite amount of beliefs, concepts and ideas every single day.
By the age of 14, 98% of children develop a negative self-image.That is a monstrous figure, unfortunately it isn’t positive at all. In my opinion, it is the television icons, music artists, entertainment industry magazines and the social networks that unintentionally promote a negative self-image.
Social networks are now more about ‘who has more friends‘, rather than about connecting people. Magazines are perceived to be less about providing useful, quality information, but instead making others feel physically inferior by showing perfect – sometimes unattainable figures of popular celebrities and models. It’s a case of ‘negative motivation’. Fact of the matter, it’s also partly our fault for this. For believing the hype and letting it spread like a plague. We have ended up creating the society that we have today.
Negativity breeds from negativity. Consuming huge amounts of material, especially if it’s wholly negative will drive your mind into a negative whirlpool. This is where thoughts such as; “I can’t do it”, “I’m not good enough”, “but what will they think?”, “why don’t they like me?” comes from.
Limiting Beliefs vs. Empowering Beliefs
Limiting Beliefs
Believes their opinion is irrelevant
People are the reason for why they haven’t achieved what they desire.
They let the opinions of others define them.
Thinks that their goals are impossible to accomplish.
Lives for accreditation and approval from others.
Simply watching.
Looks only up to others
Empowering Beliefs
Always feels they have a right to an opinion, on any matter.
Responsible for all their actions. Believes the only person that can stop them, is themselves.
Takes on board the opinions of others – but still makes the final decision.
Goals are always specific, attainable and crystal-clear.
Lives for autonomy – Possesses the will to live.
Doing and learning.
Looks into others.
Finally, changing your belief system isn’t easy but it is required if you want to be successful and lead a balanced life.
