We all experience, consciously or unconsciously, limiting thoughts. These deep-seated beliefs can hinder our personal development and our ability to innovate. Understanding and overcoming these obstacles opens vast prospects for our personal and professional development.
limiting beliefs: invisible obstacles
Limiting beliefs are thoughts or convictions that we hold to be absolute truths, but which limit our actions and our view of the world.
They are often rooted in upbringing, experience or social influence. According to Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy[1], these beliefs can alter our perception of our own abilities and inhibit our potential for success. Indeed, when an individual internalises a negative belief about themselves, they tend to behave in ways that are consistent with this perception, creating a vicious cycle of self-confirmation. Other factors such as intrinsic motivation and the social environment also play a key role in success.
They take the form of generalisations such as “I’m not cut out for sport”, “I’m not creative” or “I’m too old to learn”.
In our businesses, they can put the brakes on performance and innovation. A manager may think “I have to know everything to be credible”, “If I delegate, I lose control”, or “Failure is unacceptable”. These ideas restrict risk-taking, team autonomy and business development.
Similarly, the belief that “Artificial intelligence is only for large companies” can limit the adoption of technologies that are accessible and strategic; or that “Automation will replace human jobs” can put the brakes on initiatives that would improve productivity and collaboration.
neuroplasticity: the power to reprogram our brains
Science offers us an encouraging perspective. Neuroplasticity, or cerebral plasticity, is the brain’s ability to create new neuronal connections. In other words, it remodels itself throughout our lives in response to our experiences and learning.
This means that we can change our thinking patterns by adopting new habits and exposing ourselves to new experiences.
5 questions to ask yourself to overcome limiting thoughts
- In what areas do I feel limited or doubt my abilities?
Identifying these beliefs is the first step towards change. - Are these beliefs valid? (see box below)
This question helps you to determine whether your beliefs are based on facts or assumptions, and to replace negative thoughts with positive statements. - Can I identify examples of success or demonstrate abilities that have been questioned?
This evidence will counter your limiting beliefs. - Can I set myself realistic goals?
Break your goals down into manageable steps. Achieving small steps builds confidence and reduces self-imposed thoughts. - How am I surrounded?
Surrounding yourself with people who encourage and inspire you creates a favourable environment for reinforcing positive beliefs.
how about a different angle?
One of the most powerful levers for overcoming limiting beliefs is openness to the perspectives of others. Everyone interprets the world through their own prism. What may seem impossible to one person may be obvious to another. Asking the question “How is it that he/she is successful, and I’m not?” allows us to move away from a fixed, subjective vision. Taking an interest in the careers of those who have succeeded where we feel stuck helps us to question our certainties. It gives us the opportunity to turn our own limitations into stepping stones: How would an outsider analyse my situation? What advice would he/she give me? What would he/she do to be successful? Challenging your beliefs also means opening the door to nuance and daring to go further.
the importance of openness and curiosity at itecor
At Itecor, we value listening, curiosity and creative thinking. By encouraging our consultants to overcome their limiting beliefs, we foster an environment where everyone feels free to explore, innovate and collaborate. This enables them not only to support our customers in a differentiated way, but also to deliver services that are tailored, bold and impactful.
That’s why we regularly share articles that challenge us to think differently and explore new perspectives. Because in an ever-changing world, those who dare to see further ahead shape the future.
The Work by Byron Katie
The Work is a self-inquiry method developed by Byron Katie to identify and challenge the stressful thoughts that limit us. By applying a structured process, we can examine our beliefs from a new angle, take a step back, and gain greater clarity and inner freedom.
It is based on four fundamental questions. After the third question, a reversal is applied to explore other perspectives, leading to the fourth and final question.
This question invites an objective examination of whether the thought in question is factual or merely a subjective interpretation.
Here, the idea is to go further by testing whether this belief is an absolute truth or whether it is based on perceptions, emotions or biases.
This step leads us to observe the emotional and behavioural impact of thought on our well-being and relationships.
This final phase allows us to imagine how we would feel and act if we were not influenced by that limiting belief.
This process helps to defuse negative thoughts and promote deeper self-awareness.
Footnotes:
[1] Bandura introduced the concept of self-efficacy in 1977 in his seminal article Self-Efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change, published in the journal Psychological Review. He demonstrated that belief in one’s ability to accomplish a task significantly influences motivation, resilience in the face of failure and performance.
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