From Limiting Beliefs to Limitless Possibilities: A Coach's Journey
You know that little voice in your head that pipes up whenever you're about to do something bold? The one that says "Who are you kidding? Let's be realistic." or "You're too old/young/inexperienced for this"? Yeah, that one. We call those limiting beliefs, and let me share something fascinating I discovered recently.
I was running a vision workshop with about 20 incredible people, and when we got to the part about identifying limiting beliefs around our goals for the year, something hit me: I barely had any! Now, before you roll your eyes thinking "Well, good for you," let me be clear – this wasn't always the case. Not even close.
The Reality Check
In my five+ years as a coach, I've worked with countless clients, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that EVERYONE starts with limiting beliefs. Including yours truly. Five years ago, I was drowning in them:
"Starting a coaching business at 55? Are you crazy?" "Who's going to take financial advice from someone who just had a business 'learning experience' (aka had to close it)?" "What if I can't make enough money to contribute to my household?" “I don’t have anything ‘new’ to say”.
Sound familiar? These thoughts weren't just occasional visitors – they were throwing daily parties of doubt and fear in my head, paralyzing me with inaction.
The Game-Changer: Getting Those Thoughts Out of Your Head
Here's where it gets interesting (and I promise, this is where your life can start to change). When we take these swirling thoughts and put them down on paper (or in your phone notes – whatever works!), something magical happens. It's like turning on the lights in a dark room where you've been stumbling around. Suddenly, you can see what you're dealing with.
And you may find, like I did, some of these thoughts are downright absurd and even hilarious when you see them in black and white. It's like finally getting a good look at the "monster" under your bed and realizing it's just that stack of unread self-help books. :)
The Million-Dollar Question
When you look at these thoughts on paper, ask yourself: "Is this absolutely, 100%, no-doubt-about-it true?" Take one of my old favorites: "I'll never be financially secure." Really? Never? In the entire span of my existence, there's absolutely NOTHING I could do to change this?
Spoiler alert: That's usually when our limiting beliefs start to sweat.
The Power of Choice
Here's where it gets fun. Once you see these thoughts for what they are, you get to choose new ones. Instead of "I'll never be financially secure," try this on for size: "I'm taking small steps every day to build my financial security." Feel the difference?
It's like switching from a heavy winter coat to a linen shirt in warm weather.
Your Turn: Making This Work for You
Ready to start clearing out those limiting beliefs? Here's your action plan:
Catch Those Thoughts: When you notice a limiting belief pop up, grab it! Write it down in your phone, speak it into your voice notes, scribble it on a napkin, journal it.
Get Curious: Look at what you wrote and ask yourself: What result is this thought creating in my life? If you're thinking "I'm too old to start something new," or “I need more experience too…” chances are you're staying stuck in situations that don't serve you.
Choose Your Adventure: What result do you actually want? Write down your desired outcome, then work backwards to find a thought that could get you there. Want financial security? Maybe start with "I'm becoming more financially savvy every day." Then start pursuing actions that will make you feel that way!
Here's the beautiful part: just like I worked through my limiting beliefs about starting a coaching business at 55 (hello, thriving practice!), you can work through yours. And trust me, there's nothing quite like the feeling of looking back and thinking, "Wow, I can't believe I used to believe that!"
Remember, limiting beliefs are just thoughts we've practiced for a long time. We can practice new thoughts. And with each new thought, we open up a world of new possibilities.
So, what limiting belief are you ready to shake hands with and show the door? Your future self is cheering you on – and so am I!
Want to dive deeper into transforming your limiting beliefs? Let's connect and start building the life you love. Because trust me, if I can go from "too old to start" to "too excited to stop," anything is possible!