Self limiting behavior is a genuine obstacle that prevents many people from achieving success. Do you ever feel like you're just not good enough? If so, then you may be suffering from self limiting behavior, a conditioned way of being that prevents you from achieving success due to your own beliefs.
There are many symptoms of self limiting behavior. The most common one is negative self talk. This is when you constantly tell yourself that you're not good enough, that you'll never achieve your goals, or that you don't deserve what you want.
In this article, we will discuss in greater depth the symptoms of self limiting behavior. This is so that you can better understand the obstacles that prevent you from succeeding and experiencing life aligned with your deepest desires. Keep reading and find out if you're limiting yourself or not (very likely that you are).
The Most Prominent Symptoms of Limiting Behavior
Most of the time we are aware of the fact that we are limiting ourselves. However, it's not uncommon to be unaware of how we are limiting ourselves.
If any of the following sound familiar, it's likely that you are limiting your success in some way. All of these symptoms can prevent you from achieving what you want in life:
- You are your own worst critic
- You have a lot of negative self talk
- You don't believe in yourself
- You feel like you're not good enough
- You feel like you don't deserve what you want
- You're afraid of failure
- You're afraid of success
- You're comfortable with mediocrity
- You're not willing to take risks
- You doubt yourself
- You second guess yourself
These symptoms arise from two main beliefs: that you're not good enough, and that you don't deserve what you want. If you can begin to change these beliefs, then your entire life will change along with it.
But it all starts with recognizing the symptoms of self limiting behavior. So ask yourself: do any of these sound familiar? If so, then it's time to begin the process of change, which can be difficult at first, but it is gratifying.
Are the Symptoms of Self Limiting Behavior Different From Self Limiting Beliefs?
The symptoms of self limiting behavior and self limiting beliefs are pretty similar. This is because self limiting behaviors arise from self limiting beliefs. They usually go hand in hand.
In other words, if you have a self limiting belief, then it will likely manifest in your behavior in some way. For example, if you believe that you're not good enough, then you might not take risks or put yourself out there because you're afraid of failing.
On the other hand, if you have a self limiting behavior, then it's likely that it stems from a self limiting belief. For example, if you constantly doubt yourself, then it's likely because you believe that you're not good enough.
So what's the difference between the two? Well, self limiting beliefs are usually more on a subconscious level. They're deep-seated beliefs that you may not even be aware of.
Whereas self limiting behaviors are usually more conscious. They're things that you do or don't do because you believe that you're not good enough.
The critical thing to remember is that both self limiting beliefs and self limiting behaviors can prevent you from achieving success. So it's essential to be aware of both.
A Brief Look At How Our Self Limiting Beliefs Develop
As cliche as it might sound, most of our prominent self limiting beliefs start to develop in childhood. This is because we're constantly being bombarded with messages from the world around us telling us what we should and shouldn't do, what's possible and what's not.
However, this is not always the case, many of our beliefs begin in childhood, but they are empowered over time with reaffirming experiences.
For example, if you're told repeatedly as a child that you're not good enough or that you'll never amount to anything, then it's not surprising that you might start to believe it.
These messages can come from our parents, our teachers, our friends, or even the media. And once we start to believe these things, they become very hard to change.
But it is possible to change them. It just takes some time, effort, and patience. Because once you do change them, your entire life will begin to change along with it.
As you step into a new way of being, there is no way to avoid change. And considering, that for many people the fear of change is a deep-rooted self-limiting belief, it is not surprising that they might find the process of change to be difficult.
Take a look at this diagram I sketched out to help you better understand how a belief develops and the effects it has on us.
Let's take a look at the various types of beliefs we can come across in our own lives.
Judgments & Opinions: Deeply Rooted In Childhood
The first type of belief is what I like to call judgments and opinions. These are the beliefs we form based on what we see, hear, and experience in the world around us.
For example, if you see somebody being successful, you might believe that they're lucky or that they must have worked hard to get where they are.
Or if you hear about somebody struggling, you might believe that it's because they're not good enough or they don't deserve what they want.
These types of beliefs are usually formed when we're children and teenagers. But as we get older, we tend to hold onto them even more tightly because we've had more experiences reaffirming them.
Identity Conceptualizations: Social Labels & Self-Labels
The second type of belief is what I like to call identity conceptualization. These are the beliefs that we have about ourselves. For instance, these have to do with social labels and labels that we assign to ourselves.
For example, you might believe that you're not smart enough because you are led to believe that you don't perform well socially. So you might label yourself as an introvert.
Or you might believe that you're not good enough because you think that you're not as successful as other people. So you might label yourself as a failure.
One of the reasons why these types of beliefs are so hard to change is because they become a part of our identity. We start to see ourselves as not good enough or not smart enough. And when we see ourselves that way, it's hard to imagine ourselves any other way.
Beyond the Present Predictions: Family, Culture, Expectations
The third type of belief is what I like to call beyond the present predictions. These are the beliefs that we have about what's possible for us in the future.
For example, you might believe that you'll never be successful because you come from a family of people who have never been successful.
Or you might believe that you'll never be able to achieve your dreams because your culture tells you that it's not possible.
These types of beliefs can be very hard to change because they require us to challenge everything we know about ourselves and the world around us. But it is possible to change them as well as any other type of belief, no matter how strong it might seem.
Causal Associations: That Means, Because, Therefore
The fourth and final type of belief is what I like to call causal associations. These are the beliefs that we have about cause and effect.
For example, you might believe that if you make a mistake, it means that you're not good enough. Or if somebody doesn't like you, it means that there's something wrong with you.
These types of beliefs can be very harmful because they cause us to see ourselves and the world around us in a very negative light.
The human experience is all about meaning and association. Therefore, whenever we have an experience, we automatically assign meaning to it based on our past experiences and what we believe about the world.
These meanings and associations can be helpful or harmful. It all depends on what we believe. So if you want to change your life, it's important to start by changing your beliefs.
Why Self Limiting Behavior Is Dangerous
Self limiting behavior is dangerous because it prevents you from achieving what you want in life. It's like putting up a wall between you and your dreams. In fact, self limiting behavior is most often the only obstacle between your "past-present" self and your desired state (future).
And the unfortunate thing is, most people don't even realize that they're doing it. They think that their self doubt or fear of failure is just a normal part of life. But it doesn't have to be. The most dangerous aspect of self limiting behavior is that empowers itself over time.
Self limiting behavior usually starts off small. For example, you might not apply for your dream job because you think you're not qualified enough. So you settle for a job that's just okay.
But then, over time, that self doubt starts to grow. And before long, it's not just your dream job that you don't go after, but other things in life as well.
You start to play it safe and stick to what you know. But playing it safe doesn't lead to an extraordinary life. It leads to a mediocre one, and you would come to know this better than anyone.
There are many ways to approach overcoming our self limiting behaviors, but the first step is always awareness. Once we become aware of our self-sabotaging tendencies, we can start to change them.
When we can ascertain a certain awareness and create a little distance between the many facets of that which we call the "self," we can observe and, if need be, intervene. In life, a change in thought is usually all we need to start living by our actual infinite & divine capacity.
Because of how many ways we can approach the skill of awareness (we can develop it), it's best to leave that for another article. Make sure to check back for more so you don't miss out on practical approaches to awareness and disintegrating limiting beliefs.
Self Limiting Behaviors Are Now Easy to Understand
In conclusion, self-limiting behavior is any belief or action that keeps you from achieving what you want in life. It's essential to be aware of these tendencies so that you can overcome them and live an extraordinary life.
Self-limiting beliefs are often the only obstacle between your current state and your desired future state. But with awareness and commitment, you can change these harmful patterns of thought and behavior. You have the power to create the life you want for yourself. That's what the Expiscor Collective is all about.
If you're interested in learning more about beliefs and how you can optimize them to live a life you would like to live, click here to gain access to our free and comprehensive resource.
