Limiting beliefs keep us in our comfort zone. They can significantly limit the growth and achievement of our personal and professional goals. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we often consider these thoughts as absolute truths. However, these negative thoughts, which hinder our journey towards life goals, can be overcome and replaced with more optimistic messages. By changing your thinking, you can change your life. Liam James Collins, a co-founder of the Coaching Masters, helps entrepreneurs and coaches that he works with to break down the limiting beliefs that have been holding them back for years.
Understand limiting beliefs
To rid ourselves of these hindering thoughts and beliefs, we must first identify and understand them. “One significant thing to note here is that beliefs are very strongly held opinions. They are not facts. This is because they are not true for everyone, even though they may be true for us. Limiting Beliefs are the things we believe to be true, but they hold us back, keep us down and upset us,” shared Liam.
Liam helps people break their limiting beliefs and develop empowering ideas via a 6-stage process.
Identify one of your limiting beliefs
Firstly, Liam helps his client uncover what the exact limiting belief is. They must have absolute clarity over what, specifically, is holding them back. This is the first step to overcoming your limiting beliefs. Many people have several of these limiting belief. In that case, it is helpful to begin by identifying the one that has the most significant impact and then repeat this step with each limiting belief.
Recognize that it is just a belief
Secondly, this person must understand that what they are experiencing is just a very firmly held opinion hindering them from progressing. This is a firmly held opinion, and not a fact means this belief can be changed.
Challenge your own belief
The most crucial step is to challenge your own belief. According to Liam, “Beliefs are only strong if they are built upon a foundation of truth, and we want to disturb and disrupt this foundation by casting doubt over the truth.” Liam encourages his clients to ask questions such as:
- Why is this belief not true?
- Who gave you this belief?
- Where did this belief come from?
- Was there a time in your life where you didn’t believe this?
These questions are designed to widen your perspective on the subject and encourage a more profound thought process.
Recognize the damaging consequences
Liam focuses his client’s attention on the negative impact of these limiting beliefs. “We know it’s damaging their life because it’s a limiting belief. They are damaging in their very nature; however, we don’t often know how damaging until we explore it,” shared Liam.
Adopt a new belief
The next step in the process is to adopt a new belief. Liam shared that, “This stage of the process will feel fake because at first, the client will never truly believe this new empowering belief. However, it’s an important part of the process. I ask my clients, ‘What do you WANT to believe instead?’”
This will become the basis of their future empowering belief that will replace the limiting one.
Put it into practice
In the final stage, Liam asks his client, “What if this belief was true?” Though they may have difficulty answering at first, Liam pushes them to imagine the possibilities of going through life with this new empowering belief. He then encourages them to “Act as if it were true.” Via consistent repetition, we start to believe the unbelievable, and we adopt the new empowering belief as our unique truth.
Liam believes that “We all have limiting beliefs. However, we can break them down and replace them with something a lot more empowering. This is a vital thing to do because limiting beliefs are the number one barrier that stands between us and taking the necessary action to be successful.”
