Identify Limiting Beliefs
Being able to identify your limiting beliefs is crucial for improving your mindset. These are thoughts so deeply ingrained in us that they become part of our belief system, often without us even realizing it. Many limiting beliefs are formed in childhood, but they can also develop at any point throughout life. Identifying and shifting these beliefs is essential because they can unconsciously block you from achieving your goals and desires, and chances are, they already are.
What Are Limiting Beliefs, and How Do You Spot Them?
When you're thinking about a goal or desire and a negative thought or uncomfortable feeling comes up, that’s often a limiting belief in action. And we don’t just have one. We can have limiting beliefs in many different areas of life: money, love, health, success, self-worth, the list goes on.
To identify them, ask yourself:
What do I really want?
What thoughts or feelings come up when I imagine having it?
Is there a voice that says I can’t have it, don’t deserve it, or don’t know how?
That’s your starting point. From there, you can begin shifting the belief into one that is more supportive and aligned with where you want to go.
Example: Shifting a Limiting Belief
Let’s say you desire a bigger, more beautiful home. The first thought that pops up is:
"You can’t afford that. How would you ever buy a new house?"
That’s a belief rooted in doubt and financial scarcity. And maybe right now, it is true that you can’t afford it, but that doesn’t mean you never will. The goal isn’t to lie to yourself with affirmations that feel unbelievable. Instead, you want to bridge the gap with a statement that feels realistic and empowering.
Try something like:
“I am open to new opportunities that will help me step into my new home.”
“I’m excited to wake up every day in a large, bright, open home.”
The first version is perfect if you're someone who tends to get stuck on how it will happen. The second helps you connect emotionally with the feeling of having it, which is powerful for shifting energy and belief.
Common Limiting Beliefs from Childhood
Here are a few limiting beliefs that often originate in early life:
Money: Maybe you grew up in a household where money was a constant source of stress. You might have heard things like “We can’t afford that” or “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” If your parents struggled financially, you may have internalized the belief that money is scarce or hard to come by.
I’m Not Enough: This is one of the most common. You may have felt overlooked, criticized, or compared to others, by parents, teachers, or peers. This belief can quietly sabotage your goals by convincing you that you don’t deserve what you desire. If you don’t believe you’re worthy of something, why would the universe bring it to you?
How to Change Your Limiting Beliefs
Once you identify a limiting belief, the next step is to replace it with a more supportive thought, a belief that feels good and brings you closer to the energy of your desires.
Here’s how:
Create a new statement: That feels positive and believable.
Practice it daily: Repeat it out loud, in your head, or write it down. (Writing it down is especially powerful.)
Commit to consistency: Stick with it for at least 30 days to give your subconscious mind time to rewire.
Over time, you’ll form new neural pathways and thought patterns. “I’m not good enough” becomes “I am more than enough. I’m capable of creating the life I desire.”
And if after 30 days it still doesn’t feel natural? Keep going. You can refine your affirmation, make it more specific, or tackle another belief that may be underneath.
Moving Forward
Identifying and shifting limiting beliefs is an ongoing process. Life continues to throw new challenges and experiences at us, and with that, new thought patterns can form. The key is to catch them early. Pay attention to what you’re thinking and feeling, especially when you're striving for something new. Notice it, stop it, and shift it.
It’s never too late to change your limiting beliefs. And as you start stripping them away, you’ll find that your manifestations become more effortless, life becomes lighter, and you become a more empowered version of yourself.