Limiting Thinking/Limiting Beliefs

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Marion Coach, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Let’s talk about limited thinking today. Do you have limiting beliefs? If you are unsure of what a limited belief is; let me explain. When I was growing up and learning from others, many of my mentors worked out early in the morning. I would listen to them say “I can only work out in the morning”, “If I don’t work out in the morning, I don’t work out at all”. Well, that’s now become my belief and a very limiting one at that. As I’m writing this, it’s still my belief and I’m fighting myself on writing this because now I will have to change it and I really don’t want to, yet feel I have to. Honesty at its best. I allow it to limit my workout hours for no real, logical reason at all.

Through the years I either went to the gym upon awakening or got up before work and exercised to DVD’s. Reason being: it is how I learned and what my mind believes to be the right thing to do for me. But is it? Does it have to be? I want to say yes right now; as a matter of fact I want to scream out YES but I know it’s not a good belief. It sticks when you realize something such as this because as it has been said – Once you learn something or are made aware of something you can’t unlearn it. Darn it.

It seems when I don’t work out upon awakening I lose my time frame and I can’t work out for the rest of the day. What kind of cockamamie thought process is that? When I first met my husband I was working out at home in the morning and other days going to the gym straight after work. I got through and past that mindset I thought. Now I realize it works when it’s convenient for me. Then I only worked until 4:30 so I didn’t mind going to the gym and achieved great results. My body was in shape. I worked out hard. No excuses. Now, I’m back to – if I don’t go to the gym or work out really early, I lost my window of opportunity. There may still be 15 hours left in my day but I lost my window of opportunity? Wow! I am just realizing this, REALLY realizing it. All these years my thought process has been upon awakening is when my body is at its best and my ideal time to work out. Well, today I’m here to say NONSENSE! Yes, working out in the morning keeps ME consistent because once I do it, it’s over with and I know it’s done for the day and I don’t have to worry about it. I don’t know what other purpose it serves except when I don’t do it as soon as I get up I lost an opportunity to work out. Where, may I ask, is the sense in this thinking?

Do you see where limited thinking plays a major role in this experience? Now I’m asking – Where else does this come into my life? Where do my limited thoughts stop me from doing things I need to do in my life or goals I want to accomplish?

Wow. Limiting Beliefs are less than desirable in my life and I’m sure, in yours too. Let’s make an effort to start paying attention to what else is a learned behavior over the years. Is there something we learned that may have been incorrect or the person believed it was the right thing or it was for them and not for you? I’m sure if we dig deep enough we can find quite a few things.

Our parents and older siblings, as well as any elders, did and do the best they can to teach us what they’ve learned and believe to be true but it doesn’t mean it is for us or applies to us throughout our lives. Start paying attention and see if there is anything you can change that may be a limiting belief. Also remember something may work for you and not for someone else, so be aware of what you say to others.

I believe we all have limiting beliefs but once we figure out what they are and realize how they do not apply in our lives, maybe, just maybe we can begin to change them.

Do you have limited thoughts you recognize and would like to share? I’d love to hear from you.