How Limiting Beliefs Form - And How to Break Free
Posted on March 31, 2025 by Ola Gramovich, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Discover how your mind creates limiting beliefs - and learn a simple way to challenge and overcome them for good.
Have you ever felt held back by thoughts like:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I always mess things up.”
“Success is for others, not me.”
These are limiting beliefs – deep-seated assumptions that constrain your potential. But how do they form in the first place? And more importantly, how can you break free from them?
The Origin of Limiting Beliefs: The Power of Generalization
Our minds have a fascinating function called generalization, which helps us make quick judgments – but can also trap us in false narratives. Here’s how limiting beliefs form:
1. A Few Experiences Become “Always”
If something happens multiple times, our brain generalizes it as an unchanging truth.
Example: You’re late to work five times in two months. Suddenly, you’re labeled the “always late person” – even if you were on time 90% of the time.
2. Childhood Labels Stick
Many limiting beliefs take root early, often from repeated messages from authority figures.
Example: If you were called “not smart enough” as a child, you might carry that belief into adulthood – despite evidence to the contrary.
3. We Internalize the Stories
The real challenge isn’t just that others generalize – it’s that we start believing it too, making it harder to break free.
How to Rewrite Limiting Beliefs
The key is awareness. When you notice a limiting belief, ask:
“Is this really true?”
Look for proof that contradicts it. Often, you’ll find the belief is based on outdated or exaggerated experiences – not reality.
By recognizing how these beliefs form, you can challenge them and break free for good.
