{"id":10222,"date":"2012-04-30T21:16:01","date_gmt":"2012-05-01T05:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=10222"},"modified":"2017-07-29T18:08:13","modified_gmt":"2017-07-30T02:08:13","slug":"how-to-stop-limiting-beliefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-limiting-beliefs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Limiting Beliefs"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/a><\/p>\n

Most of us have limiting beliefs: ideas and thoughts in our mind that convince us that we\u2019re \u201cnot good enough\u201d to accomplish our goals. Why is it so tough to get rid of limiting beliefs?<\/p>\n

Do you attack limiting beliefs through things like positive self-talk (\u201cI know I can do it!\u201d) and imaging (imagining ourselves being successful)?\u00a0 I feel those often don\u2019t work.\u00a0 The problem is they only address the symptom (convincing yourself not to feel bad) rather than the cause<\/span> of your limiting belief (why<\/span> you feel bad in the first place).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re sick, would you rather just have your fever go away, or do you want the disease to be cured?\u00a0 The same concept applies with removing limiting beliefs.<\/p>\n

Understanding why<\/span><\/strong> you have limiting beliefs helps you attack the cause and get rid of them for good.<\/p>\n

And the reason we have limiting beliefs is, in large part, because of our subconscious disposition to think in a certain way.\u00a0 <\/strong>Our cognitive foundation causes us to think about our problems and other complex issues\u2014and form conclusions about them\u2014in a distinct and specific way, which in turn causes us to draw certain types of conclusions.<\/p>\n

That concept is called reflective judgment<\/em>. <\/a>\u00a0It doesn\u2019t apply exclusively to limiting beliefs, but I think it explains them pretty well.<\/p>\n

The reflective judgment theory categorizes the way we think into three levels*<\/em>. \u00a0\u00a0As we grow, we go up in levels, although most people stay stuck in lower levels.<\/p>\n

Reflective judgment theory shows that our limiting beliefs are actually a result of how \u201cdeveloped\u201d or sophisticated the way we think about things is.<\/span>\u00a0 So it stands to reason, by becoming a more \u201cdeveloped\u201d thinker, we can reduce limiting beliefs. \u00a0Understanding where you are now helps you make the transition (click on the links by the Levels for a more detailed description of each).<\/strong><\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Level<\/strong><\/a>: <\/strong>Rigid thinking.\u00a0 You believe what authority figures tell you.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Type of limiting belief<\/span>: other people tell you that you can\u2019t do it, so that\u2019s enough to convince you.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span> \u201cSociety says only special people can be great actors, so I guess that means I can\u2019t do it\u201d.<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup> Level<\/strong><\/a>: <\/strong>Ambiguous thinking.\u00a0 You believe things are \u201ctrue\u201d or \u201creal\u201d for different people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Type of limiting belief<\/span>: uncertainty and fear; you can\u2019t really figure out \u201chow\u201d to be successful because there\u2019s no certain way.\u00a0 You think that those who are successful are \u201cjust different than me\u201d; or thinking you can\u2019t do something simply \u201cbecause I just could never do that\u201d.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span> \u201cFamous actors are just different than me.\u00a0 They\u2019re rich, pretty, and have special advantages that I don\u2019t.\u00a0 I could never be as good as they are.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cThis is too complicated to figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n

3rd<\/sup> Level<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Evidence-based thinking.\u00a0 Knowledge that there is a certain, right way to do something, and by acting in the right way, you too can be successful. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Type of limiting belief<\/span>: There is no room for limiting beliefs, because defining success is the result of a logical and analytical inquisition <\/strong>rather than unfounded assumptions and emotional capriciousness.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span> \u201cMy ability to be a successful actor depends upon how skillful I am\u2014which can increase with practice\u2014and my network of people\u2014which I can develop over time.\u00a0 So I can be a successful actor if I am able and willing to put in the time and effort, and I understand the difficulties in doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n

3rd<\/sup> Level thinking is empowering because it means trying to figure out how something can<\/span> work, rather than using unfounded assumptions that say it can\u2019t<\/span> work.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Becoming a 3rd<\/sup> Level Thinker<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Challenge the assumptions at the foundation of your life, especially<\/span> those that you hold most dear, and make you most uncomfortable to think might be wrong.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Often our most dearly-held assumptions are chains that hold us back and cause us worry.\u00a0 They\u2019re the types that 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> Level Thinking revel in.<\/p>\n

    Is it really true that \u201cthe best job is a secure job\u201d or that you have to live in a $300,000 house to be happy?\u00a0 If you think you \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d start a business:\u00a0 did you actually try to look into it, or do you just think it won\u2019t work?\u00a0 If you\u2019re not worried about old assumptions like these, you can consider changing yourself and your views to fit in with your goals.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Don\u2019t have an emotional attachment to a point of view.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      We usually want to be right, or think what our parents and society tells us is right, but what really matters is what actually<\/strong> is right.\u00a0 <\/strong>If it doesn\u2019t bother you to find out your current views are wrong, you would gladly change them to something better.\u00a0 Having a disinterested perspective means a willingness to learn and assess new viewpoints.\u00a0 This increased understanding makes it harder to hold limiting beliefs.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Believe and do what seems most reasonable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        What you ultimately do believe will be based on reason and evidence.\u00a0 So instead of thinking \u201cit\u2019s impossible for a guy like me to start a business!\u201d, you\u2019ll think \u201cif I want to start a business, I need to do these things in order to be successful\u201d.\u00a0 When you know what those things are, you\u2019ll know if you\u2019re willing to put the effort into it.\u00a0 So the only thing that will \u201climit\u201d you is your decision to pursue the goal or not, rather than your emotions.<\/p>\n

        So try to think at a 3rd<\/sup> Stage Thinker.\u00a0 By appealing to reasoning over emotion, you leave no room for emotional limiting beliefs to hold you back.<\/p>\n

        For a more in-depth look into reflective judgment, I recommend these articles:<\/p>\n

        http:\/\/www.umich.edu\/~refjudg\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n

        http:\/\/web.missouri.edu\/~woodph\/rjstages\/rjstages.html<\/a><\/p>\n

        http:\/\/www.crisismanagement.org\/Art_Reflective{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c}20Judgment.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

        * Classical reflective judgment contains seven stages that belong to three levels.\u00a0 The levels\u2014rather than the stages\u2014are discussed here for simplicity.<\/em><\/p>\n

        R.C. Thornton believes that understanding personal development through intellectual analysis is the best way to challenge bad habits and become better people.\u00a0 He writes extensively on his blog, www.rcsays.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

        Photo credit: ‘Achieve Your Goals<\/a>‘ by Big Stock<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Do you attack limiting beliefs though things like positive self-talk (\u201cI know I can do it!\u201d) and imaging (imagining ourselves being successful)? I feel those often don\u2019t work. The problem is they only address the symptom (convincing yourself not to feel bad) rather than the cause of your limiting belief (why you feel bad in the first place). Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":10224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[6],"tags":[1986,4641,1985,66,4629,4640],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Stop Limiting Beliefs - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Most of us have limiting beliefs: ideas and thoughts in our mind that convince us that we\u2019re \u201cnot good enough\u201d to accomplish our goals. 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