Mindset: The First of the next 3 steps to Overcoming Limiting Belief.

Mindset:  How to change your mindset to propel you forward?

In my previous blog post, Start the journey to Overcoming Limiting Belief, I covered the starting point of the journey to overcoming limiting belief.  It starts with understanding what is a limiting belief and the starting point.  If you have missed it, you can check it out here.

In this blog post, I will be going through the second part of the next 3 steps that you will need to take in your quest to overcoming limiting belief.  This step is your mindset.

Let me quickly summarise the 3 key aspects of knowing your limiting belief.

1. Identify the limiting belief.  Be specific.  Write it down.
2. Identify the rewards and benefits of what it would be like if you did not have the limiting belief.  What are the possibilities if you did not have the limiting belief. Write it down.   
3. Identify and start to think about what actions you can take.  And write it down.

Truth be told it is the easiest of all the steps as it is just putting into our conscious mind what the limiting belief is and exploring possibilities for when the limiting belief is no longer limiting but enabling you to move forward. 

Hence the next question, what’s the next step?

First of the next 3 steps is your MINDSET.  More specifically how you can change your mindset or perception.  Limiting belief is a mindset or a thought process.  I heard this great saying “The direction of your life is influenced by your strongest thought.”  Therefore, if your strongest thought is empowering, open to learning and growing and positive, the direction of your life will most probably be a reflection of that.  Conversely if your strongest thoughts are negative, toxic and limiting, the direction of your life will reflect that.  Another note to consider is that is no one consciously sets out goals to fail or as an example to be the worse employee of the month, but it is the subconscious mindset that drives your thoughts that will determine the true motivation and ultimately the behaviour and action.  It is therefore critical that the mindset change take place before the behaviour modification.

Mindset changes requires 3 parts:

1. Intentional training of your thoughts.
2. Consistent Thought Training.
3. Determined resolved in training

In order for the new mindset to set up residence in your thought life you will need to put all those 3 elements in place.

I would like to you close your eyes and imagine, you are wearing a pair glasses.  Every negative or toxic thought that you have had leaves a mark on the glasses and over time, the dirt will build up and everything that you see through those lenses will be blurred by the dirt and grime that is left behind.  Your view or perspective is now determined by what you are now seeing through those lenses.  Over time, you will not even realise that you have been viewing the world through those muddy, dirty lenses, instead believing that your view of the world to be true.  Limiting belief is like that.  It is built over time and unless you take the effort to correct that, your mindset will be limited as your view is blurred. 

To clean those dirty glasses up, you will need to wipe off the grime so that you are able to see clearly and you will be surprise with what you can now see.  In the same way, you will need to clean up your thought patterns to change your mind or to change your mindset.  It might seem to be daunting but not impossible. 

It does require intentional training of your thoughts, consistent applications of your thoughts, words and actions and a determined resolved to keep on keeping on when the going gets tough. 

Intentional training of your thoughts.

You must be intentional with how you want to clean your thought patterns.  You will need to train yourself to think about what you are thinking about.  I know, that sounds silly but unfortunately, it is something that we do not a lot of.  Just because a thought comes into the mind, does not mean that it is true, real or worth thinking more about. 

For example, I am currently learning to play the piano and when a thought that says that I am no good at playing the piano pops into my head, it does not mean that it is true.  It does not mean that I need to entertain that thought.  In the example, I would have a meeting with myself and intentionally train my thoughts to think “I might not be good at this skill at this moment, but it does not mean that I am no good.  With practice I can be good at it, I just need to give myself time, patience and put in the effort because I know that it is a skill that I can learn.” I am intentionally training a new thought pattern. I am replacing the limiting thoughts with this more empowering thought that moves me forward.

This leads to the next part which is:

Consistent Thought Training.

In order to learn anything, there is a need to be consistent in application.  Consistent set of actions that needs to be executed or your training programme.  For example, I am in the quest this year of learning to play the piano.  I know that in order for me to learn this skill, and just about any skill, I will need to put in the effort, the practice hours.  I also know that the initial learning curve is always the hardest.  In order for me to come up a with consistent application, I will need to set aside time to practice.  We all know that practice does not make perfect, but it does make permanence. 

I will need to consistently train or reprogramme my thought patterns to reflect the new thoughts that I want to replace the limiting thoughts with.  In this case, every time a limiting thought comes, I will replace it with a new thought that acknowledges the current situation and thoughts that will empower and move me forward with words such as “can learn” or “will grow”.  For example, I will train my thoughts to “I am able to learn to play this music piece with practice, be patient and be kind to myself and enjoy the process.”

Remember, this training process takes time and do not be discouraged if it seems like your thought pattern has not changed after one day. It will take time and what you will notice is that with each day, the limiting thoughts or belief will slowly grow softer while your empowering thoughts will grow louder. 3 months down the line, once the new empowering thoughts take up residence in your thought life, it will become your default thought.

Determined Resolved.

This step is essential to keep the intentional and consistent thought training to stay its course. Determined resolved involves being determined to see the challenge through. I would like you to imagine, walking up a hill or mountain.  When you first look up and see the hill and just how high and far it is, it seems daunting and impossible.  However, if you just take it one step at a time, and yes with lots of huffing and puffing, by just focusing on one step at a time, you will be able to reach the summit.  It might be hard, and it will take time, but you will get there. 

Your level of determination will enable you to push through the hard and challenging times.  Know and prepare your expectations appropriately.  You will face challenges and trying times.  That’s just part and parcel of the journey.  The key that differentiates someone who succeeds from others is their determined resolved or grit. 

To change your mindset which has been built over a long period of time requires intentional, consistent and determined resolved.  The good news is that you can change your mind and therefore you can change your mindset.  Limiting belief is just that, it is a limiting mindset.  It can be changed.  Remember, the direction of your life is influenced by your strongest thought and if you have resolved to change that, you can.

Let me summarise the 3 parts to changing your mindset. 

1. Intentional training of your thought life.  Think about what you are thinking about.  Think thoughts are positive, encouraging, empowering such as I am skillful in this area or my strengths are in problem solving, creative, analytical, and so on.  Do not entertain thoughts that are negative or destructive or limiting.  When those limiting thoughts come in, just replace it with your new set of thoughts or mantras.  There is no point arguing with your negative thoughts.  Replace it with empowering thoughts and take the next step.
2. Consistent thought training.  If you have decided to learn a new skill, consistent action or practice is the only path for you to become better at it.  You will need to train your thought life just like you would train your physical body.  Remember practice makes permanence.  Step by step just like the example of walking up a hill.  Every step that you take, takes you closer to the summit.
3. Determined resolve.  You must be determined that you want to achieve or change.  Remember the direction of your life is determined by your strongest thought.  Know and even expect challenges and tough situations.  That’s the reason, you must make up your mind up front that you will push through and take the next step.

In this coming week, let’s start by changing your mindset around your limiting belief.  In the next post, I will be covering the second aspect of the next 3 steps to overcoming limiting belief which is intentions (Why are you doing it?). 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life. Please subscribe and set the notification so that you will know when the next blog is available.  Please share the blog with your friends and as always step into the everyday with purpose.

Please share the blog with your friends and as always step into the everyday with purpose. You can also listen to the podcast below: