Limiting beliefs are those things we believe about ourselves that ultimately place limitations on our abilities. They are subconscious thoughts telling us something that is not true. Thay are sneaky. They creep into our thoughts, whispering lies like, You can’t do this, or, What if you fail? You’re not good enough. At first, they seem harmless, maybe even protective -protecting us from failure, keeping us from risks that could lead to disappointment. But over time, they build invisible walls around our potential, and before we know it, we’re only able to work in the confinement of the belief system – we’re stuck.

Limiting beliefs can change our lives but not for the better. They create self- awareness that stops us from pursuing our dreams, undermine our efforts and relationships. I know this because I’ve been there—trapped by self-doubt and an overwhelming fear of failure.

My wake-up call came during a business presentation. I’d prepared for weeks, rehearsed my points, and yet, standing in front of my colleagues, my inner critic took over: Don’t mess up. You will come across incompetent. My voice wavered, and I rushed through my slides, couldn’t wait for it to end. Later, as I reflected, I realized it wasn’t my preparation that had failed me—it was my mindset. I’d convinced myself that I’m not good at public speaking.

This pattern of thinking wasn’t unique to presentations. It shows up in other areas of our lives: relationships, career decisions, even hobbies. Fear of failure sometimes keep people from applying for their dream job, starting that novel you always want to write, and trying new project and experiences. It easy to let these limiting beliefs dictate our actions for years.

Challenging the Narrative
How do we now get out of the grip of limiting beliefs and fear of failure? The first step to overcoming limiting beliefs is recognizing them for what they are: stories. These stories often come from past experiences, societal expectations, or our own interpretations of success and failure. A few years back I started journaling about mine, digging into the roots of these fears. Why did I think I wasn’t capable of speaking publicly? What was the worst thing that could happen if I failed?

I realized a lot of my fear stemmed from a need for external validation. I’d tied my worth to how others perceived me, so failure felt like a public announcement of my inadequacy. But when I flipped the perspective, it became clear that failure was just feedback—an opportunity to gain experience, not a verdict on my value. As John Maxwell puts it “we fail forward to success”.

Embracing Imperfection

Sometimes we believe that until we can do things perfectly we can’t start, that will hold us back from moving forward because we can never be perfect. I had to get comfortable with imperfection, it wasn’t easy, but I started small: speaking at workshops, events, small group business meetings, fine tuning my craft. Each step feels like a rebellion against the fear that held me back from public speaking. Success builds confidence over time.

One of the most transformative moments came when I was asked if I could train a large group of business executives, I jumped at it and embraced the challenge, I put in a lot preparation and told myself it wasn’t about proving anything to someone else-it was about believing and showing up for myself.

 The Power of Self-Compassion

Through this journey, I learned that self-compassion is the antidote to fear. When you treat yourself with kindness the way you will treat others, you create a safe space to take risks and try. I stopped berating myself for mistakes and started celebrating the effort it took to try. Over time, the voice of fear grew quieter, replaced by a more encouraging one: You’ve got this. You can do it. Keep going. I started encouraging myself the way I would a friend.

Moving Forward

If you are struggling with limiting belief and fear of failure, don’t let it pull you down because they are part of life-part of being human. You have to see them for who they are, and know that growth lives on the other side of fear and the courage to try is what matters most.

 Also, know you are not alone in the struggle with limiting beliefs, and you are capable of so much more than you think. Start small, be patient with yourself, and remember, every step forward is a victory. The walls that once confined you are not as solid as they seem. You have the power to break through.

Overcoming limiting beliefs is not a one-time event; it’s a continuous journey. Each small act of courage—from speaking up to being yourself—is a testament to your growth.

Remember, the fear of failure is a sign that you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, and that’s where the magic happens.

Embrace the process, and trust in your ability to rise. You are capable of more than you know, and your journey has just begun.