Is this limiting belief holding you back from the life you dream of?

Feelings of not being worthy or 'good enough' is the number one limiting belief that holds people back from their goals. The good news is we can overcome these beiliefs and lead a more fulfilling life.

I’m not good enough! This is the most common limiting belief that holds a person back from their goals and the life they dream of living. It is a pervasive and debilitating thought pattern that affects individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their achievements or accomplishments.

I’m not talking about situations where a person is quite capable of most things they do but perhaps aren’t great at something such as sports. No, I’m talking about the ever-present, deep-seated, and sometimes invisible internal feeling of shame and belief that you aren’t worthy. I’ve been there as have many of my clients.

Feelings of unworthiness affect everything in our lives.

Feeling unworthy or not good enough can affect your relationships through issues with intimacy, trust, or communication. It can affect your mental health by causing anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. Even your personal growth or career can be affected through missed opportunities or fear of rejection for promotion. How many goals have you dreamed but didn’t pursue because you were afraid to fail, or maybe the fear was that you would actually succeed?

These feelings often stem from childhood experiences, such as critical parenting or caregivers, it can be a result of bullying or peer rejection, a toxic or abusive relationship and even the societal expectations and comparisons we are constantly bombarded with. It can come as a result of another person’s actions towards you in which they treated you as less than.

This isn’t always a conscious belief either. Often, it lives just beneath the surface of our awareness, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and actions in subtle yet profound ways. This is known as an implicit or subconscious belief which can develop through repeated experiences or messages. It can be absorbed from cultural or societal norms or result from past traumas or tragic events.

How does not feeling good enough show up in our lives?

The feeling of not being good enough whether we are aware of the belief or not can still have a significant impact in our lives in ways such as,

• Self-sabotaging behaviors

• Feeling you don’t deserve love, happiness, success, or wealth

• Procrastination

• Avoidance

• Distraction

• Fear of failure and risk aversion

• People-pleasing

• Seeking constant validation

• Difficulty accepting compliments or recognition

• Persistent self-doubt

• Imposter syndrome

  
  

How can we heal?

Having feelings of unworthiness is not a life sentence, you absolutely can flip the script and believe in our own amazing, beautiful self! Becoming aware of these implicit beliefs is a crucial first step to challenging and changing them. This can be achieved through

• Mindfulness and self-reflection

• Challenge the negative thought, is it true? Who told you it is true?

• Journaling or writing

• Shadow work

• Acknowledge your accomplishments and celebrate your strengths

• Positive affirmations

• Working with a transformational life coach

• Therapy or counseling

• Feedback from trusted individuals

Feeling not good enough is a common obstacle that holds people back from reaching their full potential, but by understanding where it comes from, recognizing its effects, and implementing solutions, you can overcome this belief. By acknowledging and addressing both conscious and subconscious "I'm not good enough" beliefs, we can work towards a more empowering and compassionate mindset and lead a more fulfilling life.

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Where have the impacts of limiting beliefs shown up in your life? Do you recognize any of the behaviors listed? Have you been able to overcome feelings of unworthiness or are you still struggling? I invite you to leave a comment below to share your experience and to subscribe so you will receive future articles as we continue to explore and dive deeper into our mindset and how to bloom into the life we dream of living. xo