Over the last few days we’ve learnt how to relax our nervous system, rewire our dopamine cycle, and become more in tune with our feelings.

Next, we need to work on our beliefs. These are the invisible thoughts that determine what we believe ourselves capable of achieving.

If we do not change our beliefs, we will not be able to transform our lives.

Day 4: Limiting beliefs

📚 Reading

Ever wondered why smokers continue to smoke despite knowing it’s slowly killing them?

Or why we continue to pollute the earth despite entering a climate crisis?

Cognitive dissonance.

We don’t like to act one way and think another.

So we end up telling ourselves stories about our current situation to justify it.

Smokers will say that they know other smokers who have lived healthily into their 90s.

Politicians will say that economic growth is more important than climate targets.

And rather than quitting our jobs we’ll say: ‘I’m waiting for a promotion’, ‘my job isn’t so bad’ or ‘the world is too unstable right now’.

Unfortunately, many people need to hit rock bottom before they transform.

In that moment, the pain of remaining the same finally becomes higher than the pain of changing.

But we don’t have to wait until then…

The good news is that if you start acting differently, it will change your thinking.

Small successes can be extremely powerful in helping us to believe in ourselves.

That’s why this course is all about tangible steps you can take to change your life.

We can create evidence to support a new story.

My turning point

For over half a decade I was working in the corporate world, dreaming of doing something more meaningful with my life.

But I would constantly come up with reasons to put off doing something about it.

That all changed in 2020.

I realised that one of the core beliefs I had - that I needed the stability and security of a corporate career - was a fallacy.

At the start of the year, the whole world shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And as all of our systems and way of life were turned upside down, I realised that there was no such thing as stability.

Everything could change.

In this fluid world, what did I truly want for myself?

I decided to turn inwards for answers.

The lockdown in the UK meant that I had many months for introspection.

There was none of the noise and distraction of the outside world.

This, combined with a year of consistent therapy and meditation, created fertile ground for self-inquiry.

In that reflective space, I realised that I was deeply unhappy in my job. I felt like I was divided between my authentic self and my constructed self.

Deep down inside me I felt some instinct telling me that I was on the wrong path. If I didn’t make some sort of change, I knew that change would be thrust upon me.

Without much of a plan, and in the middle of lockdown, I quit my job.

That leap of faith sent me on a wild adventure of self-discovery over the past few years.

It taught me so much about my true nature and I’ve been able to experience a life more fulfilling than I ever imagined possible.

That’s why I want nothing more than to help others to chase their dreams.

Limiting our potential

Have you ever wanted to pursue a dream or something new but found yourself thinking, “I can’t do it” or “it won’t work out”?

These thoughts often stem from limiting beliefs.

They’re the whispers in your mind that convince you of your inadequacy, despite your abilities and potential.

Imagine your life as a vast field of opportunities.

Limiting beliefs are like fences, restricting your movement and stopping you from exploring the entire landscape.

They’re not real, tangible obstacles, but they can have a very real impact on your life.

We can end up feeling closed-in and claustrophobic in our lives despite the enormous potential we know is out there.

What would it be like if those barriers were suddenly removed?

What if you truly believed that you could achieve your dreams and that you were deserving of success?

That’s the power of identifying and breaking free from limiting beliefs.

It’s like tearing down those fences and realising the boundless potential that has always been within your reach.

📝 Journal prompts

If you had unlimited confidence and self-belief, what would you do differently with your life?

What’s stopping you?

🛠️ Tool

The Work

When you come across a liming belief, you can ask yourself these four questions:

1. Is it true?
2. Can I absolutely know it’s true?
3. How do I react when I believe that thought?
4. Who would I be without the thought?

Then, you can turn the belief around and find evidence to support it.

For example, you might have the belief “I’m not experienced enough to start a bakery”.

It might seem true but you can’t know that for certain! When you believe the thought, you feel small and don’t put yourself out there. Without it, you would be more confident and empowered to start.

When you turn the belief around to “I have enough experience” you can find some supporting evidence. For example, maybe you ran a market stall, received positive feedback from friends, and received a marketing degree at university.

Suddenly, the limiting belief doesn’t seem so overpowering.

This line of questioning is known as The Work and was created by Byron Katie. It can be a very effective way to break down limiting beliefs.

🧘‍♀️ Guided meditation

This powerful meditation uses hypnotherapy techniques to help you let go of old beliefs and create new ones.

Listen to the meditation here.

💫 Wrap-up

So today we’ve explored how limiting beliefs restrict the field of opportunity in your life. And we’ve used a simple tool of self-inquiry to start dissolving one.

Tomorrow we’re going to learn about the importance of self-acceptance and how we can silence the inner critic.