Breaking Free from Self-Doubt: Strategies for Tackling Limiting Beliefs

Posted on July 08, 2025 by Kole Finley, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Limiting beliefs are more than just negative thoughts—they’re mental barriers that can keep us stuck, preventing progress in both our personal and professional lives. Whether it’s rooted in fear, past experiences, or self-doubt, these beliefs can feel like an invisible wall between where we are and where we want to be.

In this guide, we’ll explore common limiting beliefs and dive deep into practical ways to overcome them. You’ll find tips, exercises, and real-world strategies that will help you move past these mental blocks and achieve your goals.

What Are Limiting Beliefs?
At their core, limiting beliefs are assumptions or convictions that we believe to be true about ourselves, others, or the world. These thoughts often operate in the background, influencing how we view our abilities and what we believe we can accomplish.

Some of the most common limiting beliefs include:

“I’m not good enough.” This thought tends to come from feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome, where you question your value or skills.

“I don’t have enough time.” We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but this belief often shows up when we’re avoiding action due to fear or overwhelm.

“I’ll fail if I try.” Fear of failure is paralyzing, but it’s often based on the mistaken idea that failure means something about who we are, instead of what we do.

These beliefs feel real because they’ve been reinforced over time, but they are often based on inaccurate perceptions. And the good news is—they can be changed.

Step-by-Step Approach to Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Let’s break down a practical process for tackling and overcoming your limiting beliefs. This isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about understanding the root of these beliefs and taking consistent steps to shift them.

1. Identify the Limiting Belief
The first step is awareness. You need to clearly identify what belief is holding you back. Start by listening to your internal dialogue. What thoughts tend to come up when you face a challenge or think about pursuing a goal?

Journaling Exercise:
Write down situations where you feel stuck or hesitant. Then, ask yourself: What thoughts do I have in these moments? These thoughts are clues to your limiting beliefs. For each limiting belief, write it down, and next to it, write how it makes you feel. Understanding the emotional weight of these beliefs is key to moving forward.

2. Question the Belief
Once you’ve identified the belief, it’s time to question it. This step is crucial because it helps to dismantle the power of the belief by poking holes in its logic.

Ask yourself:

Is this belief a fact, or is it just a feeling?

Where did this belief come from?

Is there evidence that contradicts this belief?

Often, you’ll realize that these thoughts are assumptions you’ve built over time, not objective truths. For example, if you believe “I’m not good enough,” look at your past successes or accomplishments. They’re concrete proof that you have what it takes.

3. Replace the Belief with a Positive Alternative
This step involves reframing the limiting belief into something more empowering. But instead of jumping to unrealistic affirmations like “I’m amazing at everything,” focus on balanced, achievable statements.

Example:
If your limiting belief is “I’ll fail if I try,” reframe it to something more grounded, like: “Even if I fail, I’ll learn valuable lessons that will help me improve.”

This subtle shift acknowledges the possibility of failure but reframes it as a stepping stone, not a dead-end.

4. Take Small, Consistent Actions
Overcoming limiting beliefs isn’t about taking massive leaps; it’s about consistent action. The best way to prove to yourself that a belief isn’t true is to take small steps that counter it.

Break it down: If you believe “I don’t have enough time,” start by dedicating just 10–15 minutes each day to work on your goal. Small actions add up over time, and they help to chip away at the belief that time is your enemy.

Track your progress: Whether it’s through a simple checklist or an app, keeping track of the small steps you’re taking will reinforce the new belief. Every small win helps shift your mindset.

5. Surround Yourself with Support
You don’t have to tackle limiting beliefs on your own. Surrounding yourself with the right support system is a powerful way to stay on track.

Find mentors: Seek out people who are where you want to be, or who’ve gone through similar struggles. Their guidance and perspective can help you see your situation differently.

Join communities: Whether it’s an online group or an in-person network, connecting with others who share your growth mindset will help reinforce your new beliefs. When you’re surrounded by positive reinforcement, it’s easier to keep your limiting beliefs in check.

Creative Methods to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs
Let’s go beyond the typical advice and explore some unconventional ways to challenge your limiting beliefs:

Talk to Your Limiting Belief
It sounds strange, but giving your limiting belief a name and addressing it directly can be surprisingly effective. This technique creates distance between you and the belief, making it easier to manage.

Try this:
The next time you notice a limiting belief creeping in, give it a name (like “Doubtful Dave” or “Critical Cathy”). When it shows up, acknowledge it and talk back: “Thanks, Dave, I hear you, but I’m doing this anyway.”

Embrace the 5-Second Rule
This technique, popularized by Mel Robbins, can help you take action before fear has a chance to stop you. When you feel hesitation creeping in, count down from 5 and immediately take action. The idea is to outsmart your brain’s tendency to freeze when faced with fear.

How it works:
Say you’re about to talk yourself out of a task because you believe you’ll fail. Count down: “5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” and immediately do the first small thing that gets you moving—whether that’s writing one sentence, sending an email, or making that call.

Turn Overcoming Limiting Beliefs into a Game
Gamification is a fun way to shift your mindset. By turning challenges into a game, you reduce the emotional heaviness and make the process of change more enjoyable.

Create a points system: Award yourself points for each step you take towards challenging your limiting beliefs. For example, give yourself 10 points every time you say “yes” to something that scares you or 5 points for taking action despite self-doubt. Track your progress and reward yourself when you hit milestones.

Visualize Setbacks (Not Just Success)
Visualization is powerful, but rather than only focusing on the end result, visualize how you’ll handle setbacks along the way. This helps prepare your mind for challenges, making them less intimidating when they show up.

How to do it:
Picture yourself facing a common roadblock, like a project not going as planned. Visualize how you would problem-solve and get back on track. By normalizing obstacles, you remove the fear of encountering them.

Final Thoughts
Changing limiting beliefs takes time, but it’s entirely possible with a mix of awareness, consistent action, and the right support. These beliefs don’t have to define your future—they’re simply stories you’ve told yourself in the past. By questioning them, reframing them, and taking small steps towards growth, you’ll begin to see how much is actually possible.