How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Achieve Your Big Dreams

Do you have big dreams, but feel stuck when it comes to figuring out how you’re supposed to achieve them? Can you imagine yourself reaching for this big dream, only to snap yourself back into reality and think, “be realistic”? 

Well, if you’d like to learn the real reason WHY you’re not making progress towards this big dream, keep reading.

Let's do a fun exercise together! To make it easier for you, I’ve created a Google Doc template that you can use to complete this activity. It includes an example to help guide you through the process. Click here to access the template (you’ll need to make a copy of it before you can edit it) then join me back here.

Are you ready?

Think of a big dream that you have. No one is here, it’s just me and you, and I can’t see what you’re writing, so don’t hold back… dream big! No, bigger. You know that dream that you’re too embarrassed to tell anyone about? Yeah, that one. Type it in the space provided at the top of the Google Doc template.

Next, on the left-hand side of the doc, write down all the reasons why you believe you'll never accomplish this big dream.

Think of all the reasons you believe it’s not possible for you. What would your friends and family say if you told them this grandiose plan of yours?

Write down every reason you can think of in the template. When you run out of reasons, come back to this article.

Okay, now let's step out of the situation for a moment. I want you to imagine a fictional person. Picture someone who has the exact same dream as you but NEVER achieves it. What do you think this person would have to believe about themselves, their abilities, the world, and their big dream in order for it not to come true?

Do they believe it’s not possible for them?
Do they believe it’s too hard?
Do they believe they don’t have the right experience? Time? Skills?

Write those all down on the left side of the template, like before, then head back here. 

Okay, we just drudged up a lot of negativity just now, so let’s take a few deep breaths and reset our minds. Breathe in for 5-4-3-2-1, hold for 3-2-1, and breath out for 5-4-3-2-1. Repeat 2 more times.

Great, let’s try and think more positively now.

In a moment, you're going to return to the Google Doc. For every reason you listed on the left side, the reasons you think it's not possible for you (or the fictional person) to achieve this big dream, I want you to write a rebuttal. On the right side of the template, list all the reasons why each statement is not true. Draw from your past experiences or play devil's advocate.

The template includes a filled-out example to help you structure your thoughts. Here’s an additional example to give you a sense of how this exercise works: Let’s say you want to start a podcast. One of your limiting beliefs might be, “I can’t start a podcast, I have nothing interesting to say.” On the right hand side, you could write:

“I actually do have lots to say about being an entrepreneur. I’ve been one for 10 years, and have been studying entrepreneurship informally for 15 years.”

“I don’t need to be interesting to everyone, I just want to speak to the people who want to know what it takes to become an entrepreneur.”

“My friends and family have told me countless times that I’m a very charismatic speaker.”

Then you’re going to think of a fictional person again. But this time, they have achieved the exact same big dream you have. What would they have to believe about themselves, their abilities, the world, and their big dream in order for it to come true for them?

Go ahead and work on your rebuttals, and check back here when you’ve made some progress.

Don’t you feel better already? If not, then you need to invest more time and effort into the right side of your doc. Don’t try to complete this all in one sitting, or skate through this activity, it may take several attempts to work through all of the doubts on the left side of your template.

Those doubts are called LIMITING BELIEFS. Limiting beliefs are beliefs that are, well… limiting you in some way. I call them LIES DISGUISED AS FACTS, because that’s essentially what they are. In your brain, there is NO OPTION for these beliefs not to be true - unless you put them under a microscope and are intentional about it, like in this activity. But if you leave them to their own devices, they will slowly erode any excitement or confidence you feel about moving your big dreams forward.

If you pick each one apart, and come up with all the reasons why that limiting belief is not true, you can rewrite the narrative in your subconscious mind that believes it is true. It’s not true and now, you have the proof.

Limiting beliefs are just one of the many ways our minds block us from our full potential (not because our minds are out to get us, but because they are trying to protect us) and when you can take back the power from these lies (disguised as facts), you will start seeing a clearer path forward to make your dreams a reality.

This exercise isn’t just for big dreams—it works for anything you want in life, big or small. Keep the template handy and revisit it whenever you feel stuck or held back by limiting beliefs.

When you’re ready to learn more about limiting beliefs, and all the other ways our minds are wired to keep us stuck and playing small, enroll in She Can Academy and get ready to work through the blocks that are preventing you from playing bigger, showing up more, and achieving your big dreams!