Limiting beliefs.

This morning I was doing an exercise in writing down my goals and dreams. I wanted to write my ultimate and limitless goals. Just for fun to get it down and hopefully gain a better understanding of what I want out of my life. Something interesting happened. Instead of writing a dream, I limited that dream. I had this internal dialog, like oh well that’s not realistic Bjorn. It was out of this that I realized how I limit my own success. I created a limit to a dream. I created this artificial limit to my own success. So now I am working to change the language I use around myself and goals, what is the worst that can happen? It doesn’t happen? What is the best that could happen, I could take my projects or my business further than I thought.

“If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a trough for you.” -Louise Hay.

I realized today that if I create an artificial ceiling for what I can do the best I can do is that. So if I set the ultimate goal too low the best I can achieve is that low goal. Why am I doing this? I likely am doing it to keep myself safe from disappointment.  But what I am really doing is limiting my potential. I am putting a governor on the go kart I call my life. I realize that I have tried this and I am ready to take things further. When I set a low goal and miss it I am disappointed so why not reach further? I am almost embarrassed that it has taken me so long to realize this.

Sixty years ago it was thought that running a mile in less than 5 minutes was impossible until Roger Bannister broke it and ran a sub 5 minute mile. After this happened many others followed. Now it's commonplace for people to do in high school track. But for so long it was common knowledge that it was not possible. This happens so often in so many things. We as humans have this limiting belief and listen to everyone around us and take it as fact. Every innovator and record breaker has the audacity to believe they can do what they do. That the common belief is just that, a belief.

So what is my limitless goal? What is the goal when I remove all limits and look at what I want to achieve? I get so uncomfortable just writing it down. This is an example of the first step I need to take. I need to remove this barrier I have created for myself. If I can’t even pretend to want it how can I expect to accept it when I achieve it.

I look at many of the realistic goals I have set and often without even realizing it I have achieved them. But I sit disappointed. I find it so important to reflect on things and accept what I have done. I get so stuck on the next thing, the next and so I find it beneficial to periodically look at what I have achieved and what I am achieving now. Appreciate what I have done and what I am doing. This also charges me and gives me so much motivation to keep going and striving for the things I am reaching for.

A second moment for me today was when I went to tell a friend about my limitless goals, I put up this introduction that totally took away any certainty in the success of it. It was almost subconscious I prefixed the goals with; “I know it’s silly and a little unrealistic but…..”  What am I doing!? Who am I keeping safe from? Like I am worried that I will be judged for striving big with my goals? That is exactly what these are my big goals! They are supposed to be limitless, but by doing this I am already putting limits on it. It's like when I say something profound and immediately say a quick “I don’t know” like why?! I just took away the power from my own statement. I do know, because I fucking said it. Who is this keeping me safe from? If they are going to judge me, they will regardless of if I put my little safety pad at the end with, oh I don’t know. I’m done being safe. Judge me, haters gonna hate. I’m ready to be judged if it means I will be successful. I am done with putting limits on myself and I am excited to see what I can do without them.

If you liked this article subscribe to my email list below and please share with someone who would appreciate it. 

Thank you for reading, You’re doing great. 

Bjorn RG.