How Self-limiting Beliefs hold us back

The nature of any belief is that once you adopt it you will tend to defend it and seek evidence to hold it to be true. If you believe you cannot, then you will make sure that you don’t succeed. You will find plenty of evidence to keep the belief alive.

I was recently on holiday in Thailand, where a group of friends hired a long-tail boat to try rock climbing over the sea. As I approached the high rock, jutting out of the sea, I saw a rock climber hurdle himself off the rocks after what seemed like 10 mins of deliberation.

I was nervous for him due to the height of the fall, but also because of the deep sea that lay underneath. I am the type of swimmer who likes to be able to put their feet on the ground quickly, if needed. I didn’t trust my swimming ability to make it from the boat to the rock face, never mind hurdle myself from a cliff. As our boat settled, I watched all the men jump joyfully from the boat and climb up a flapping ladder to get to the first run of the climb. I watched as they tried to contort their bodies into shapes while balancing on the cliff face. Only one member of the group was unable to pull himself up the ladder. As I watched him fumble and fall off the ladder, I instantly thought that’ll be me. I won’t get up that ladder, it’s too hard. I put my life jacket on and swam over to the roc,k all the while thinking I am not going to make it up. I am going to make a fool out of myself.

I started the climb and was surprised I made some headway. Just nearing the top, I lost my footing with one step and decided again, no, I cannot do this, I am going to jump back down. And I did, to my regret. I could have made it up that ladder if only I had let myself!

What beliefs are you holding onto that are holding you back? What do you need to concentrate on to help push you forward?

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