Blog Posts
Limiting Belief Systems
Would you be surprised if I told you that emotional suffering comes from a series of beliefs that disempower you? Allow me to explain…
Here is a list of beliefs that will cause you to not only give away your power (Disempower) but create massive amounts of anxiety, depression and other emotional issues:
1. People must always approve of me (how I look, what I do or say, etc.).
2. I must always avoid being disliked or not approved by others.
3. I am only valuable if I succeed or am perfect at everything I do.
4. It is never acceptable for me to make mistakes or not be good enough.
5. It is other people’s responsibility to keep and make me happy or feel of worth.
6. My expectations (of myself and others) must always be met, otherwise I am a failure.
7. I am fully entitled to happiness and good health, regardless of what I do or say.
8. Events from my past justify my attitude and behaviors today.
9. Someone must take responsibility for me.
10. I am neither worthy nor deserving of happiness.
Rather than the limiting 10 beliefs (listed above), how about trying the following instead:
1. People may not always approve of me, but that is their problem and not mine. I am okay with who and how I present myself.
2. I approve of myself and allow others to have their own opinion.
3. I have my own unique value I bring to life and realize perfection is only a goal or part of the journey.
4. It is acceptable for me to make mistakes, as this is part of the journey of growth and individual worth.
5. I am the one who is responsible to keep and make myself happy or feel of worth.
6. My expectations can be limited to healthy growth with the realization that failure doesn’t truly exist.
7. My level of happiness and good health is equal to my thoughts, beliefs and actions.
8. Regardless of my past, I am able to stay in the present moment and thereby regulate my emotion and behaviors accordingly.
9. I am responsibility for myself (all of me).
10. I am worthy and deserving of happiness in every aspect in my life. Challenging our limiting belief systems will help us feel more empowered and reduce our emotional suffering. It’s all about what we believe. Aaron Nicolaides, PhD, LCSW