7 Beliefs That Limit Personal Growth
There is a phrase that we hear on a daily basis: “everything is in our minds”. While it’s true, we sometimes forget the breadth of this message: Thoughts direct our lives for good and for bad. In fact, there are many beliefs that limit personal growth without realizing it.
There is an example that shows this very clearly. Suppose someone blindly believes in an amulet. One day, faced with the loss of the amulet, everything starts to go wrong. Does, for example, a necklace or a bracelet have the power to determine life? A rational answer would be no, but many believe that power exists and would not doubt it for a moment.
From the outside, it’s easy to see that this type of belief limits personal growth, but for those who have these convictions, it’s not that simple. In this sense, there are many who do not believe in a necklace specifically, but rather in certain ideas that have the same effect as the amulet. Here are 7 such cases.
Beliefs that limit personal growth
1. The lack or deficiency
This is one of the beliefs that limit personal growth, because it bases everything on something that is missing. It is characteristic of people who tell themselves that they are not beautiful, intelligent or rich enough to accomplish something, and that this lack prevents their happiness.
It is a clearly mistaken belief. It serves to divert attention from the real problem: not accepting yourself. On the other hand, having something in excess is no guarantee of happiness. Furthermore, every human being has some attributes and no others.
2. Thinking it’s better not to feel
The experience of severe suffering always leaves marks. However, in some people they become deep scars. The only thing they want is not to suffer anymore, let alone feel pain. Their desire is so strong that they make the decision to “stop feeling”.
This is, of course, impossible. What really happens is the inhibition of feelings and the impression that they are no longer there. However, this also deprives them of many wonderful experiences and prevents them from learning to overcome the sufferings that, sooner or later, will appear in their lives.
3. Assume that being better than others will bring happiness
In this case, the others are simple reference points. They are used to measure our ego. If we can overcome them, we feel satisfied individually. If we don’t, we will feel frustration and irritation.
This is one of the beliefs that limit personal growth because it leads us to see relationships with others as pure competition. Nobody is better or worse than anybody else. It can simply act with greater or lesser precision in specific circumstances.
4. Believing that our lives are harder than others’
Also known as “victimism”. It is an illusory belief that suggests that we are always worse off than everyone else. That only we can suffer a lot or have so many problems.
It is an egocentric belief that seeks to justify our suffering or our frustration. In fact, in anyone’s life there are sufferings and achievements. Measuring the intensity they have in each is absolutely impossible.
5. Thinking that, by achieving something, happiness will be achieved
Happiness is, above all, a complex attitude and feeling. It doesn’t depend on an object or an achievement. It involves building a good level of harmony in life, with humility, optimism and hope.
One is not more or less happy through external elements. This is the kind of belief that limits personal growth. We will no longer feel stably fulfilled with a new car or a new romance. We either carry happiness within us or we won’t find it anywhere.
6. Be convinced that life is suffering
It is said that many times we cannot choose between having problems or not, but we can choose whether or not to suffer for the problems. Many see difficulties as a challenge, an opportunity to be better. Others think it’s totally negative.
In the latter case, one of the beliefs that limit personal growth may develop: assuming that suffering for everything is normal. That there is no choice. That this is a sea of suffering and that we only overcome one pain to enter another. It might even be thought that even what is good is just an omen for the bad.
7. Believing that something or someone explains our pain
There are those who choose to explain their frustrations or limitations by hiding behind an external factor. They think that if it weren’t for their parents, unemployment or the injustice of the world, they would be completely happy. In a word, they blame something external for their internal feelings. This is false. Human beings have the ability to transcend barriers whenever they want to.
As we can see, all these beliefs that limit personal growth enter life imperceptibly. In short, they block us and prevent us from seeing the big picture that lies ahead.
