Have you ever felt like you’re pushing hard against an invisible wall?
You know what you want, you try to move forward, but something keeps holding you back—and you can’t quite put your finger on what it is?
I remember sitting with Lisa, a client who came to me feeling exactly this way. She was a successful marketing director with a beautiful family, but inside, she was drowning in frustration. “I just don’t understand,” she told me, tears welling up. “I should be happy. I have everything I wanted. But something’s blocking me from enjoying my life.”
As we talked, it became clear that Lisa wasn’t struggling with a lack of skills or opportunities. She was battling something much deeper: limiting beliefs that had been quietly sabotaging her for decades.
Here’s the thing—most of us don’t even realize we have these beliefs. They operate beneath our conscious awareness, quietly directing our thoughts, feelings, and actions from behind the scenes. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the signs that limiting beliefs might be at work in your life.
Sign #1: Emotional Reactions That Seem Out of Proportion
Do certain situations trigger intense feelings of anxiety, frustration, anger, or self-doubt that seem bigger than the situation calls for? That’s often a limiting belief at work.
One of my clients, Sarah, would come home from work exhausted, and if her house were messy, she’d completely blow up at her kids. During our work together, we discovered she held two powerful beliefs: “I’m powerless” and “If kids don’t obey their parents, they’re being disrespectful.”
Every time she walked into a messy home after specifically asking her children to clean up, those beliefs triggered a cascade of emotions. She felt disrespected and powerless, which fueled her explosive reactions.
These beliefs didn’t appear out of nowhere. Sarah’s parents had explicitly told her throughout childhood that children who don’t obey are disrespectful. This became a deeply rooted belief that controlled her emotional responses as an adult.
When we used the Lefkoe Belief Process to eliminate these beliefs, Sarah found herself responding more calmly. The messy house was still frustrating, but it no longer triggered that overwhelming emotional storm.
Sign #2: Self-Sabotage and Procrastination
Ever notice yourself getting excited about a new project or goal, starting strong, and then mysteriously losing steam? Or finding yourself procrastinating on tasks that would move you toward your goal?
That’s another huge red flag that limiting beliefs are at play.
Michael came to me because he kept sabotaging himself at work. He’d start projects with enthusiasm but would procrastinate when it came time to finish them. Using our belief discovery process, I asked him to imagine the moment right before he’d distract himself, and to notice what thoughts came up.
“I’m going to screw this up,” he admitted.
When I asked what he’d have to believe to have that thought, the answer came quickly: “I’m not capable” and “I’m a screw-up.”
We traced these beliefs back to his childhood. His father would frequently say in frustration, “You’re such a screw-up” whenever Michael made mistakes. Those words became beliefs that drove his self-sabotaging behaviors for years.
After eliminating several beliefs with the Lefkoe Belief Process, Michael found himself following through on projects without the usual procrastination. The voice telling him he’d fail went quiet, replaced by a new sense of capability.
Sign #3: Negative Self-Talk That Feels Like Truth
If you catch yourself thinking things like “I’m not smart enough,” “I’ll never succeed,” or “I don’t deserve this,” pay attention. These aren’t random thoughts—they’re expressions of limiting beliefs.
James came to me describing how he walked around with a constant voice in his head listing all the things wrong with him. The dominant message was always the same: “You’re not good enough.”
This wasn’t just occasional self-criticism—it was a persistent soundtrack that colored everything he did. When we worked together to eliminate the belief “I’m not good enough,” James experienced profound relief.
“For the first time,” he told me, “I can look in the mirror without that voice telling me what’s wrong with me. I can look at something I’ve written and instead of only seeing the flaws, I notice when I’ve phrased something beautifully.”
That’s the freedom that comes when limiting beliefs are gone. You’re not trying to fight against negative thoughts—they simply aren’t there anymore.
What Can You Do About These Limiting Beliefs?
When I work with clients, we use two powerful tools to address limiting beliefs:
- The Belief Discovery Process – This helps us identify exactly which beliefs are causing the problems. We look at emotional reactions, self-sabotaging behaviors, and negative self-talk to uncover the specific beliefs holding you back.
- The Belief Elimination Process – Once we’ve identified the limiting beliefs, we use this proven method to eliminate them completely—not just mask or manage them.
The beautiful thing about eliminating beliefs (rather than trying to suppress them) is that once they’re gone, the negative emotions, self-sabotage, and harmful inner dialogue naturally disappear too. You don’t have to work at feeling better—you simply do.
Think about it: How would your life change if the limiting beliefs that have been holding you back simply weren’t there anymore?
Would you speak up more in meetings? Start that business you’ve been dreaming about? Set healthier boundaries in relationships? Allow yourself to receive love and success without feeling you don’t deserve it?
The Next Step Is Yours
If you recognized yourself in any of these signs, please know that you’re not alone. Most of us have limiting beliefs that affect our lives in ways we don’t even realize.
But you don’t have to continue living with these invisible barriers. I’d love to help you identify and eliminate the specific beliefs that are holding you back.
I’m inviting you to sign up for a free strategy session with me. During this session, I’ll help you get clear on what you truly want, identify the patterns holding you back, and explore whether working together is the right next step for you.
These sessions are completely free, with no obligation—just an opportunity to see what’s possible when limiting beliefs are no longer running the show in your life.
Ready to take the next step? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with me and start your journey toward freedom from limiting beliefs.
Remember, these beliefs aren’t the truth about you—they’re just old stories that can be changed. And when they change, everything else can too.
