Limiting beliefs are the silent roadblocks in your thinking that quietly shape your decisions, behavior, and confidence. These mental blocks often feel like truth, but they’re usually based on fear, conditioning, or past experiences—not facts.
Most of us have limiting beliefs operating in the background without realizing how much they’re influencing our lives.
You might hear them in your own self-talk:
- “I’m not cut out for leadership.”
- “Money is hard to come by.”
- “It’s too late to change careers.”
- “People can’t be trusted.”
They feel personal, but they’re common. Most of us have limiting beliefs operating in the background without realizing how much they’re influencing our lives.
What exactly is a limiting belief?
A limiting belief is any assumption or thought you treat as true, but that ultimately restricts you. These thoughts usually show up in the form of inner commentary. They are automatic judgments about yourself, others, or the world.
Limiting beliefs can affect your sense of identity, your goals, your emotional health, and even how much effort you put into opportunities.
Some beliefs are about yourself:
“I’m not good with money.”
“I always mess things up.”
Others are about the world:
“No one cares about people like me.”
“It’s not safe to stand out.”
Where do limiting beliefs come from?
No one is born with limiting beliefs. They’re learned. Your mind starts out as a blank slate, but over time, you pick up messages from:
- Childhood experiences
- Family and cultural norms
- School and authority figures
- Media and advertising
- Social expectations
Some beliefs are taught directly (“That’s not realistic”), while others are formed through repeated exposure or personal setbacks (“I failed once, so I must not be good at this”).
Eventually, your mind builds mental shortcuts around these patterns. What starts as a thought becomes a habit of thinking—and that habit can quietly shape your entire worldview.
Examples of limiting beliefs
Limiting beliefs don’t always sound dramatic. Sometimes they show up as common sayings or quiet doubts. Curious what they sound like in real life? Check out this list of 101 examples of limiting beliefs.
You might be surprised how many you’ve heard—or believed—without realizing they were holding you back.
How to overcome limiting beliefs
The first step is noticing them. Just by learning what limiting beliefs are and exploring how they show up, you’re already doing the work to change them.
Overcoming a limiting belief means identifying it, questioning its truth, and replacing it with a more accurate or empowering thought.
For example:
If you believe, “I’m bad with money,” ask yourself—where did that belief come from? Is it always true? Could you learn the skills you need? Reframing that belief into something more helpful, like “I’m capable of learning how to manage money,” opens up new possibilities.
If you’re looking for practical steps on how to get rid of limiting beliefs, especially the ones that feel deeply ingrained, we break it down in this guide.
Ready to get rid of limiting beliefs?
If you want to uncover and replace your limiting beliefs step-by-step, check out Big Think: Empowered Thoughts — a book designed to help you challenge mental blocks and create more empowering ways of thinking.
Not ready to buy the book? For more strategies on how to overcome limiting beliefs in everyday life, including tools for self-reflection and mindset shifts, here is a full article.
Limiting beleifs holding you back?
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