Limiting beliefs are not always in forms that you can recognize easily, and that is what makes them detrimental!
If I could describe the feeling I had when I first heard the statement “you don’t have to be behind bars to be in prison,” I’d say: it felt like a slap, the kind that wakes you up from a deep sleep. In that moment, something clicked. I had been a prisoner… not of a crime, not of chains, but of my own mind.
Hey, fellow prisoner (yes, you too), shout “God forbid!” all you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that many of us are quietly locked away in prisons of our own making. The bars? Invisible. But the limits? Oh, very real.
“A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners or slaves of their own concepts and ideas.” – Maharaji (Prem Rawat)
This quote? It’s the mirror. And when I looked into it, I saw myself.
What Are Limiting Beliefs?
Let me break it down simply: limiting beliefs are false ideas that keep you stuck. They whisper things like:
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“I’m too old.”
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“I don’t have enough experience.”
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“I don’t have the money.”
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“People like me don’t make it.”
I had a time when I truly believed I could never be a blogger. Me? Write online and have people read it? Ha! I convinced myself so well that I began convincing others too. Even the ones who saw my potential, I’d dismiss them with a smile and a long list of “logical” reasons why I wasn’t good enough.
But guess what? All of that, the fear, the doubt, the self-sabotage, was just the prison I built brick by brick, belief by belief.
How Limiting Beliefs Hold Us Back
Here’s the shocker: your beliefs shape your reality. If you believe something isn’t possible for you, your brain will find a way to confirm that belief. It’ll feed you thoughts that support it, recall experiences that reinforce it, and even steer you away from opportunities that challenge it.
Why? Because your brain wants you to feel safe. And comfort, even if it’s rooted in fear, feels safe.
Limiting beliefs often begin unconsciously. Maybe it was something your parents said, a heartbreak, a failure, or a cultural narrative you’ve soaked up over time. Before you even realize it, you’re walking around with invisible chains. And worse, they feel normal.
How to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs
You don’t need a hammer to break these chains, you need awareness, intention, and a bit of audacity. Here’s how to start:
1. Write Them Down
Grab a journal or your Notes app and start listing the thoughts that make you feel small. Don’t sugarcoat. Be honest.
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“I’m not smart enough.”
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“I can’t start a business.”
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“I’ll never find love.”
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“I’m too damaged to be successful.”
The moment you write them down, they lose some of their power.
2. Trace the Source
Ask yourself: Where did this belief come from?
Maybe your parents struggled with money, so now you believe you’ll always be broke. Or maybe a teacher once told you you weren’t creative. Maybe you’ve had a string of bad relationships, so you assume love isn’t for you.
Understanding the origin helps you realize it didn’t start with you, and you can choose to end it with you.
3. Challenge the Narrative
Now that you know where it came from, rewrite the story.
If you believe you can’t be successful because you’re not from a wealthy background, remind yourself of people who started with nothing and made it. Surround yourself with stories and people who reflect your new belief. And if you need to, change your environment. Yes, sometimes freedom looks like unfollowing people who make you doubt yourself.
I wrote an entire ebook called Slay Self-Doubt that walks you through the steps to break free and step boldly into your potential.
4. Use Positive Affirmations
When the inner critic starts yapping, respond with affirmations that speak life.
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“I am worthy of success.”
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“My voice matters.”
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“I am capable of love and being loved.”
You might not believe it fully at first, but keep speaking it. Consistency is key.
5. Visualize a New Reality
Close your eyes and imagine what your life would look like without that limiting belief. Who would you be? What would you do?
Now open your eyes and go take the first step toward that vision.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
You don’t have to run a marathon on Day One.
Did you post that blog? Start the business plan? Send that email? That’s freedom. Applaud yourself.
7. Surround Yourself with Possibility
You need people who water your dreams, not shrink them. Follow creators who inspire you. Read books that awaken you. Hang out with people who see more for you, even when you can’t yet see it for yourself.
You Deserve to Be Free
Being in a mental or emotional prison can feel normal until you realize freedom was always an option. You just didn’t think you deserved it.
But here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t have to live stuck. You don’t have to shrink. You can step into rooms you once thought were off-limits. You can start again. You can write new stories.
Every time you challenge a limiting belief, you loosen another chain. One day, you’ll look around and realize… you’re free.
So the question is, are you ready to break free from limiting beliefs?
Recommended resources: Slay Self-Doubt
With love,
Opeyemi
