How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

Overcoming limiting beliefs isn’t about “thinking positive.” It’s about thinking clearly.

Limiting beliefs are mental blocks. Thoughts you’ve accepted as truth that quietly control your decisions, confidence, and progress. They often sound reasonable but are built on fear, past experiences, or assumptions rather than facts.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to overcome limiting beliefs step by step. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unqualified, or “not the kind of person who can do that,” this process will help you challenge those internal limits and create space for something better.

Why overcoming limiting beliefs matters

If you don’t address your limiting beliefs, they will continue to run in the background, shaping your actions and choices without your consent.

These thoughts can:

• Kill motivation before you even try
• Make you shrink your goals
• Cause procrastination, overthinking, and self-doubt
• Reinforce a false idea of who you are and what’s possible

And because these beliefs feel familiar, they often go unquestioned which makes overcoming them a mindset skill worth learning.

Want to learn more? Start with What Are Limiting Beliefs?

Step 1: Notice the limiting belief

You can’t overcome what you don’t see. Start by tuning into moments where you feel stuck or hesitant. Ask:

• What thoughts are coming up?
• What do I believe about myself in this situation?
• Is there a “rule” I seem to be following that might not be true?

Common beliefs to look out for:

• “I can’t change.”
• “I’m not smart enough for that.”
• “Other people can do it, but not me.”
• “That’s just the way it is.”

Need help spotting limiting beliefs? Here’s 101 Examples of Limiting Beliefs

Step 2: Question the belief

Most limiting beliefs fall apart under pressure. Ask:

• Who gave me this belief?
• Is there any proof it’s true — or proof it’s false?
• Would I say this to a friend?
• What has this belief cost me?

This is where emotional reasoning often shows up: the belief feels true, so you assume it is. But feelings aren’t facts — and beliefs can be wrong.

Step 3: Flip the script

Once you’ve questioned the belief, create a more empowering version. This isn’t about lying to yourself — it’s about creating a belief that supports growth.

Instead of:

• “I’ll always be behind”
  Try:
• “Everyone grows at their own pace — and I’m learning now.”

Instead of:

• “I’m not disciplined enough”
  Try:
• “I’m building better habits step by step.”

Not sure how to reframe your thoughts? My book Big Think: Empowered Thoughts includes plug-and-play reframes for common mental blocks.

Step 4: Reinforce the new belief

Changing a belief isn’t one-and-done. Your brain has practiced the old belief for years. The new one needs repetition.

Try:

• Writing it daily
• Pairing it with an action (e.g. saying it before trying something new)
• Tracking times you act in line with the new belief

This is how belief shifts become behavior shifts.

Step 5: Get evidence

Beliefs are strengthened by experience. As you take small actions that support the new belief, your brain builds new proof.

For example:

• Belief: “I’m bad with money” → Track spending for a week and stay under budget.
• Belief: “I’m not confident speaking up” → Share your opinion once in a group meeting.

Each time you act in alignment with your updated belief, it grows stronger.

The truth about limiting beliefs

Most of the thoughts holding you back weren’t even yours to begin with. They were handed to you, likely by a stressed-out parent, a rigid school system, or a culture built on fear.

But you get to choose what you believe going forward. And the fact that you’re here means you already are.

Keep going

Overcoming limiting beliefs is a skill. The more you practice it, the faster and easier it gets.

Here are more resources to support your mindset work:

• What Are Limiting Beliefs?
• How to Get Rid of Limiting Beliefs
• 101 Examples of Limiting Beliefs
• Limiting Beliefs: Everything You Need to Know

Or dive deeper with my book Big Think: Empowered Thoughts, written to help you recognize limiting beliefs and replace them with healthier, more empowering alternatives.