You're working hard, so why aren't you getting ahead? The surprising truth behind limiting beliefs.

You’re working hard but you find yourself wondering why you still aren’t getting ahead?

You’re putting in the hours, going above and beyond, yet nothing seems to be changing. 

You find yourself wondering why your efforts aren’t being recognised and getting you closer to success, but the answer you are searching for doesn’t necessarily lie in your work ethic, it might actually be your limiting beliefs. 

This week’s musing is exploring the sometimes invisible barriers that hold you back from stepping into your full potential and giving you insight into how you could overcome them. 

What even is a limiting belief? 

Limiting beliefs are the stories that you tell yourself about your abilities, your worthiness and your potential. 

They come from past experiences, societal conditioning or your fear of failure. 

Some examples you are likely familiar with are “I’m not good enough”, “I don’t deserve success,” and “I’m afraid of failure.” In fact I’d be very surprised if you haven’t experienced all three at some point in your life, if not right now as you are reading this. 

These beliefs shape your perceptions and behaviours, which create self imposed barriers that hinder your personal and professional growth aka holding you back from what you want in life. 

What is the impact of limiting beliefs? 

Limiting beliefs can have a profound impact on our careers and life in general. 

You will find your limiting beliefs undermining your confidence, diminishing your resilience in the face of challenges, and preventing you from seizing the opportunities for growth. 

Put your work ethic to the side, despite your hard work and dedication, these beliefs can keep you stuck in a cycle of self sabotage, hindering your progress and holding you back from your big audacious goals. 

What can you do about it? 

Identify your limiting beliefs

Take time to reflect on your thoughts and beliefs that come up about your capabilities and potential. 

Grab a notepad or add it in your phone notes, any recurring negative thoughts or self doubts that come to mind. 

Once you identify them, you are one step closer to overcoming them. 

Challenge your beliefs. 

Once you’ve identified them it’s time to challenge them with evidence and alternative perspectives. 

Ask yourself these questions: Is there concrete evidence to support this belief? How would someone else view this situation? 

By questioning the validity of your beliefs, you can begin to the loosen the grip they have on your mindset.

Practice self compassion. 

This is usually the hardest part, you need to be kind to yourself as you work through overcoming your limiting beliefs.

These beliefs are deeply ingrained in you and may take time to change so treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would a friend facing a similar challenge. 

Seek support

Don’t be afraid to reach out for support from mentors, coaches, your manager or trusted colleagues. 

When you share your struggles with others they can provide valuable perspective and encouragement as you work to overcome your limiting beliefs. 

Supporting yourself with a supportive network of people who believe in your potential is a game changer. 

It can be easy to blame your lack of career advancement on external factors such as luck or competition, but the truth might actually be closer to home. 

Limiting beliefs can act as invisible barriers that hold you back from reaching your full potential. 

By identifying, challenging and replacing those beliefs with more empowering narratives you can finally break free from your self imposed limitations and create opportunities for success.

Remember, your hard work is one piece of the puzzle, overcoming those pesky limiting beliefs is the key to unlocking career advancement and fulfilment like you’ve never experienced before.

If you struggle with the stories that you tell yourself holding you back from where you want to be and need support to rewrite the narrative, this is exactly what I help my clients do in our one on one coaching sessions. Let’s jump on a free call to understand where you’re at and how I can assist you.