THE THOUGHT

I’m not good at sports. I've always known this to be true. It’s one of those beliefs that, like a distant lighthouse in heavy fog, guides my daily choices. It feels comforting, reliable—and for a long time, remained entirely unquestioned.

I once believed this so strongly that I convinced an entire PE department to let me earn all my credits through chess. On one hand, this taught me I could be extremely persuasive, and our chess club went on to win multiple tournaments. But deep down, I knew I was mostly avoiding something I'd convinced myself I wasn't good at.

Many internal "truths" function this way. We don't remember actively choosing them, yet we build our lives around them, rarely pausing to question their validity.

But how do these truths originate? Who writes them? Why do we accept them without challenge? If we traced them back to their origins, would they still hold up?

THE DEEP DIVE

Tracing the Roots of Our Limits

These self-imposed barriers are known as limiting beliefs. Deeply ingrained thoughts dictating what feels possible. They're subtle yet powerful narratives we accept as absolute truths.

These assumptions don't usually originate within us—they're handed down through generations, embedded in family narratives and cultural norms. Our beliefs about money, success, relationships, and happiness are often inherited without question. Here are some common ones:

• I'm not good enough

• I'm not worthy of love

• I'm too old

A fascinating aspect of limiting beliefs is their self-reinforcing nature. Once we adopt them, our minds selectively notice experiences that confirm their validity, while dismissing evidence to the contrary. This psychological phenomenon is known as confirmation bias. Subconsciously, we establish a powerful feedback loop that strengthens the belief.

These narratives typically emerge as psychological defenses, our mind’s attempt to protect us from pain, disappointment, or rejection. When we encounter criticism, failure, or negative feedback—particularly in childhood—we create stories to make sense of those experiences. Over time, these protective stories solidify into internalized truths, offering a seemingly safe, predictable framework to interpret the world.

They're comforting myths, quietly keeping us at a “safe” distance from our true potential.

THE PRACTICE

The Freedom to Question 

The good news is limiting beliefs start to crumble the moment we challenge them. Simply noticing them as inherited stories rather than absolute truths shifts agency back into our hands.

Our brains remain adaptable throughout life, continually reshaped by new experiences. This flexibility means we're never permanently bound by narratives we've inherited. The trick is to aim for a gradual transformation where beliefs loosen their grip. Questioning just one assumption can unravel countless self-limitations.

Here’s a practice I find helpful:

• Identify one belief you've accepted without questioning—like "I'm not creative."

• Reflect on its origin. Is it truly yours, or did you borrow it from someone else?

• Reframe it slightly by adding the word "yet": "I'm not creative, yet."

• Notice how this shift feels. Does your perspective change slightly?

In my case, challenging my perspective around physical activity opened new possibilities. I now find comfort in yoga and have discovered that running is not only enjoyable but empowering. Learning about limiting beliefs changed my life—I hope it unlocks something meaningful for you too.

Next time you catch yourself facing a negative belief, pause and ask, "Where’s the proof?" You might discover lifelong truths aren't as truthful as they seem.