How can limiting beliefs be holding you back from attaining your health and weight loss goals? First let’s take a look at what limiting beliefs are. Limiting beliefs are conscious or unconscious thoughts, stories and opinions we believe, that constrain us in some way, and some examples might be:
- I am not good enough
- It’s in my genetics to be overweight
- I can’t lose weight
- I don’t have enough time
- I’ve tried everything
Limiting beliefs are based on past experiences we’ve had that evoked painful feelings, such as; feeling like a failure, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and years later, in an attempt to avoid pain, whether you are aware of them or not, these beliefs may still be preventing you from taking the action you need to take to reach your goal, which inadvertently causes you more pain.
Here is an example scenario. Jess is 35 years old, and she has wanted to lose 15kgs for the last 6 years. At the time, everyone seemed to be losing weight on this diet, so Jess went on the diet also, only to find that she didn’t lose any weight. Jess then unconsciously formed a few limiting beliefs which were:
- “I’m a failure”
- “Diets don’t work for me”
- “My genetics are keeping me from losing weight”
It is in our nature to avoid pain, and the next time Jess thinks about losing weight, these limiting beliefs she has formed will kick in and act as a defence mechanism with the positive intention to avoid feeling painful feelings again. The beliefs will hinder her drive and motivation, which will decrease the amount of action she takes, as well as the effort she puts in to achieving her goal, preventing her from getting the results she wants.
Just like Jess, your limiting beliefs are based on past experiences you’ve had that evoked painful feelings. Years later, in an attempt to avoid pain, whether you are aware of them or not, these beliefs may still be preventing you from taking the action you need to take to reach your goal, which inadvertently causes you more pain.
Below we have the success cycle.
I don’t believe I can accomplish this
As you can see above, if you don’t believe you can achieve something, you will take little action. If you take little action, you get a loud result. And when you get a lousy result, the more disempowered you become within yourself, and the worse your belief system gets, making future tasks harder to accomplish.
I believe I can accomplish this
As you can see above, if you believe you can achieve something, you will take massive action. If you take massive action, you get a great result. And when you get a great result, the more empowered you become within yourself, and the better your belief system gets, making future tasks easier and easier to accomplish.
