and Limiting Beliefs!
Today we’re playing a card game called Virginia’s Crazy Eights!
OK, I’ve changed the rules a bit so pay close attention.
Each player in a game receives eight cards and the rest of the cards are put on the table, face down with one card placed face-up as a starting card.
The point of the game is to try and get rid of all your cards first!
The first player needs to simply lay a card on the starting card that matches its number or its suit. If the player can’t do this, then they need to draw a card from the stock pile.
When the stock pile is gone, then the player who can’t lay a card needs to pass.
In THIS game of Eights, eights are “wild,” which means that you can get rid of them at any time, regardless of the number or suit that came before.
The first person to a score of 100 points wins, so keep your tally as you go!
8 Limiting Beliefs and How to Get Rid of Them
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “limiting beliefs,” but do you really know what they are?
A belief is a thought that’s repeated so often that we begin to accept it as reality. It’s something we consider to be a fact, something that we assume to be true. Note I said “assume” to be true. We use them to navigate the world, but we also use them to keep us safe. That’s why we typically protect our beliefs after they’re formed and guard them very carefully. And hence, we never question them!
I’m sensing a theme here…
What Are Limiting Beliefs?
A “limiting belief” is a thought about yourself and your world that restricts you in some way. Everyone experiences limiting beliefs now and then but learning to identify them will help you prevent them from – well – “limiting” you. We all have them. They affect how successful and happy we are. And they dictate what we consider to be possible or achievable.
Ah-ha! Now do you see why this is an important topic when it comes to your creativity?
Let me repeat that: they dictate what we consider to be possible or achievable.
That’s why beliefs are so important and worth examining. Because – we assume our beliefs are factual, whether they are true or not.
One of my favorite quotes, and one that I repeat to myself often, is from Henry Ford. It goes something like this: “Believe that you can or believe that you can’t; Either way, you’ll be right.”
Have you ever thought to yourself, I’m not good at something so you start to think you should avoid that thing? These beliefs often come from a place of negativity and fear that keep us from learning and experiencing new opportunities.
If you’ve had similar thoughts, you’re not alone. Almost every creative struggles with self-limiting beliefs that can hinder creative expression. The key is learning how to identify these beliefs in order to overcome them. These beliefs are often untrue accusations you make against yourself that can cause a bunch of negative consequences.
Some Examples:
For example, if your limiting belief is that you’re bad at painting, then you’re very likely going to avoid going to your studio, doing any kind of practice, or show up at a workshop and paint within the group. Or, if you DO go to the workshop and DO have to paint in a room full of other artists, you may set up in the back of the room, think you’re work won’t measure up, and get nervous. This is because you have some negative ideas about your ability to paint that limit your ability. It’s a vicious cycle.
How Limiting Beliefs Affect Your Creativity
You can’t change what you aren’t aware of. When it comes to limiting beliefs, that negative stuff can decrease both creativity and productivity. Imagine you’re walking into your creative space and want to try a new process or material. If you don’t believe in yourself enough to even experiment, the result probably won’t be fun.
Addressing your limiting beliefs can unlock your creativity and engagement in your craft.
Letting go of those Crazy Eights will help you reach outside the box and bring new ideas, fun, and fulfillment to the worktable. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a handful of cards at the end of the day.
It’s in those adventurous moments when real growth and creativity happens and it’s important for you to believe in yourself enough to push past perceived limitations. That’s why it’s so important to encourage positive thinking in your creative space.
The 8 Most Common Limiting Beliefs I Hear
So here are Eight crazy beliefs I hear most often. Learning the most common ones can help you identify them if they arise. To become a better creative, and a more successful one, start to recognize them, lay them on the table, and go for the win!
- I’m not good enough
- I’m too old (or too young)
- It’s too late to try something new
- I don’t have enough time to invest in myself.
- I’m not smart enough
- I don’t have enough money
- I’ll never be successful at this
- I’m not talented enough
These types of beliefs come from a place of fear, and everyone has them. The goal is to learn how to identify and combat limiting beliefs, so they don’t prevent you from getting out of your comfort zone.
You may be tempted to tell yourself you’re not good enough or that you’ll never be good enough in order to keep you safe, but in the end, these beliefs prevent you from encouraging yourself and expanding your craft.
The trick is to recognize your own limiting beliefs when they come up and use that to reframe how you think about yourself.
How To Overcome Those Limiting Beliefs
OK, let’s get those cards on the table!
While being able to identify your self-limiting beliefs can help you correct them in the moment, we’re in this for the long haul. We want to win. Overcoming them takes time and practice, and it CAN be done.
I thank David and Daniela Naidu at @skilledatlife for a wonderful exercise to help you rewrite your belief system. Once you’ve identified some of your limiting beliefs, it is time to replace them with empowering ones.
Step 1: Take a limiting belief and think about how that belief has worked against you and held you back. Write it out and list details of how it may be negatively affecting your relationships, your energy, and your creativity. How is it showing up in your daily life? I believe X, so I notice I do (or don’t do) Y. I believe X so I notice I treat others as if Y. I believe X so I notice I always experience Y.
Step 2: Now, let’s analyze them for accuracy! Getting to the bottom of your limiting beliefs can help you see them for what they really are. Think of some evidence that proves that the belief is false, or at least not 100% correct. This one can be tough. Remember we try desperately to protect our beliefs. It’s hard to try and SEE things that prove them false. But you will, I promise!
Step 3: The third step is to replace your limiting or negative belief with an empowering and positive one. Tell yourself what you would prefer to believe instead, based on the answers to #2.
I’m not talking about fluff here! For example, if you’re telling yourself you’re not talented enough, reframe that belief by assuring yourself that you’re a “hard worker, are willing to learn, and deserve success.” If your belief is around time, replace “I don’t have enough time to invest in myself” with “I have the ability to restructure my time so I can focus on what’s most important to me.”
Let go of your old limiting belief, admit that it was false (and it was keeping you stuck) and then start believing in your heart one that is more empowering.
Step 4: The fourth and final step is to remind yourself of your new beliefs every day. Remember, you’ve probably spent close to a lifetime clinging to their limiting beliefs, so it takes a little bit of time to rewire and replace them with the empowering ones. The more you consciously remind yourself of your new beliefs, think and feel them in your core, the faster you will be able to replace the old ones.
I like to remind myself of my new empowering beliefs when I first wake up, numerous times during the day, and before I go to sleep at night. The more you practice this, the sooner your subconscious mind will start including them in the commentary…and the sooner you can get rid of those Crazy Eights!
Believe In Yourself
Everyone experiences self-limiting beliefs, so when you experience one, remember you are not alone. You probably won’t completely eliminate limiting beliefs, but you can learn to overcome them and focus on the positive ones. When you change your perspective, you change your life.
Remember,
“Believe that you can, or believe that you can’t. Either way, you will be right!” Henry Ford
So back to the game. You may need some belief buddies. The game can be played with several people. So, grab a buddy and let’s play.
The idea of Eights is that you earn as many points as possible, as quickly as possible. You get points for the cards you get rid of! Face cards are worth 10, Aces are worth 1, and eights score 50!
The first person to a score of 100 points wins!
So, what’s your score? Share your insights, and your points, below. How many Eights did you get rid of?
Join me LIVE on my Facebook page, Virginia Leigh Studio, at 3:00 pm Central every Wednesday and we’ll chat about this. I’d love to hear from you.
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