Through my life experiences, conditioning, limited understanding, and fear of failure, I convinced myself I wasn’t cut out to start a business.
I clung to that internal version of myself, and it afforded some false sense of security and a way to rationalise my decision to stay the course. I was also very wrong. As my dream beckoned, I summoned the courage to answer the call and take my shot.
If you’ve ever thought, “That’s just not possible for me,” you’re not alone. Most of us live with limiting beliefs — mental barriers shaped by our environment, upbringing, and even the negative thoughts that dominate our minds daily.
Belief drives outcomes and if you believe something will happen, you increase the possibility of it coming to fruition. For example, if your goal is to hit a big sales number, it serves you to believe you’ll make it instead of convincing yourself pre-emptively that you’ll fall short.
Many beliefs weren’t shaped consciously. They came from conditioning — things we were told, experiences we’ve had, or environments we grew up in.
Add in a constant stream of negative thoughts and we develop limiting beliefs that hold us back. According to some studies, as many as 80 per cent of our thoughts daily are negative.
Below are a few of my favourite tactics to break free of self-limiting beliefs.
• Write down your dream: Big or small, personal or professional, it’s essential to be clear about what you want. Putting your dream into words gives it shape and makes it feel real - like something you can work toward, not just a hope.
• Identify the beliefs holding you back: Ask yourself what you believe about this dream. What are the thoughts that pop up when you imagine going for it?
Go further and consider where these thoughts, feelings and beliefs come from.
Recognising the origin of these thoughts and feelings associated with them is the first step to dismantling them.
• Flip the script: Replace that limiting belief with an empowering one. This isn’t about lying to yourself; it’s about finding a belief that feels aspirational but achievable.
Use the word ‘yet’ to open the door to new possibilities and growth.
• Visualise the possibilities: Close your eyes and imagine yourself living that dream. Picture the sights, sounds, and emotions as vividly as possible.
Visualisation helps rewire your brain, quieting doubts and reinforcing positive beliefs. It also helps to write these visions down.
• Take one bold step today: Dreams don’t materialise overnight but require action.
Decide on one thing you can do right now — something small but meaningful — that moves you closer to your dream. Progress, no matter how incremental, builds momentum.
When you shift your belief, you shift your reality. We are likely familiar with the refrain: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Wrong! You are far more likely to see what you want when you start to believe it first.
Two stories every leader needs to tell
Telling a compelling story establishes credibility and galvanises support for your ideas.
It’s how you inspire an audience and lead an organisation. Compelling storytelling is a key leadership skill.
Unfortunately, leadership communication and effective storytelling are often competencies that are underdeveloped.
It’s no surprise that Gallup research found that only 13 per cent of employees strongly agree that leadership communicates effectively with the rest of the organisation.
The same study found that only 22 per cent of employees strongly agree that leadership has a clear direction for the future of the organisation.
That’s a failure to communicate, or at least communicate effectively. Leaders influence when they reach people in ways that help them understand clearly, enable them to connect, and inspire them to act.
There are two stories that every leader should learn how to tell.
Your origin story: An origin story is about our beginning, our values, what inspires us, and the defining moments and influences that helped shape the person we are today.
It gives people, staff, and a business a glimpse into your life experience, leadership philosophy, and the meaning behind your motivation.
This story can serve as a catalyst to connect you to others. If shared effectively, it will make you more approachable, understood, and perhaps a little more human.
Your growth story: The second story is about vision. It's a story about how the business is going to achieve sustainable growth and deliver the mission.
Research shows that if leaders adopt certain mindsets, they’re two and a half times more likely to outperform their peer groups.
Commit to communicating beyond data, facts, and figures. Solidify your leadership origin and growth stories and share them in service of others.
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