4 Common Self-Limiting Beliefs

Henry Ford, one of the most influential men in history, once said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” He believed that the largest obstacle people faced, the obstacle that kept them from realizing their potential, were themselves. Now coming from your average Joe these words may have little meaning, but as I’m sure you will agree, Ford’s success gives those simple words a great deal of credence. By eliminating the words “I can’t” from his vocabulary, he created one of the largest empires in the world.

Self-limiting beliefs are huge obstacles to success.  Recognizing these self-imposed limitations is the first step to overcoming them, allowing you to reach any goal you wish.  Below are the 4 most common self-limiting beliefs:

1.  Failure Lasts Forever

Failure can stop people in their tracks.  They allow a lone setback in life to define who they are and stop them from realizing their potential.  But failures do not have to be permanent, and in no way are they representative of who you really are.  It’s true that we must live with the consequences of our actions, but learning from these consequences is what separates successful people from the crowd.  Use these failures as an opportunity to grow, and move forward confidently with this new knowledge.  You are more than your experiences and the lessons you learn, followed by the actions you take in the face of failure, will help you to achieve remarkable results in your life.

2.  I’m Not Smart Enough

Many people believe they are not smart enough to make a difference.  They feel success is reserved for people in an entirely different class than them—an elite group of some kind—and that greatness is reserved for only them.  They feel they have no control or power over their own lives because they just don’t measure up.  This is simply not true.

Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, was a common man with very little formal education, yet his belief in himself allowed him to revolutionize the world.  Can you imagine what the world would have been like if he believed he wasn’t smart enough or worthy of his calling?

Everybody has something that makes them unique.  The trick is to discover your special skills—the skills that make you who you are—and utilize them to create the type of life of which you can be proud.

3.  I’m Not Worthy

Unfortunately there are people who believe they don’t deserve to be successful.  They think that great success and happiness is reserved for others and regardless of what they do, they feel they will never measure up.

Unfortunately, living life this way seems safe to a lot of people. After all, if they never even try, failure, their worst fear, is not even possible. One can’t, for example, fail to land their dream job if they never even submit an application. Conversely though, using this same thought process, success proves to be unattainable as well. This manner of thinking poisons the possibility for success and positive change, and creates that mediocre existence that most people are constantly complaining about.

You are indeed worthy of success.  Believe in yourself and your ideas.  They have great worth because they come from you.

4.  Nobody Likes Me

Fear of the way we are perceived can be a major impediment to growth. Many of us become paralyzed to action because we’re afraid of the way it will look to others, but this paralysis is completely unwarranted. The majority of people-those same people we worry about-are far too concerned about themselves and their own issues to even notice what we’re doing. If you think about it, concern over the way we are perceived is rather egotistical.

Now there are people who care about you, and thus have a vested stake in the decisions you make, but why in the world would you worry about their perceptions? They are the people who want you to succeed and will unfailingly root for you regardless of the outcome of the decisions you make. They are your support team, people who will be there for you through good and bad. Count yourself lucky for having them in your corner. The rest of the world, however, is too wrapped up in their own daily grind to have time to ponder yours.  Don’t worry about how your actions will be perceived by others.  Move forward with the knowledge that the people that matter to you will support you in everything you attempt.

Looking for a few good things to say to yourself? Here are 21 Positive Self-Talk Affirmations.

Done beating yourself up? Here are 66 Ways to Lessen Stress and Feel Happier.

7 Tips for Hiring a Life Coach

Do you need a Life Coach?  Do you know what a Life Coach is?  Are you in the Alberta area and looking for Calgary Life Coach? In this post I will explain in more detail the roles of life coaches and how best to hire one.

Many people think the use of a Life Coach signifies an inability for handling the challenges of one’s own life.  They believe only weak people require the assistance of a coach.  This is simply not true.  Why else would people like Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and Derek Jeter have personal coaches.  The reason is because a Life Coach helps people maximize their potential and seeks to aid individuals who want to get the very best out of their lives.  If anything, the use of a Life Coach represents strength of character and the will to succeed.

Another misperception is that Life Coaches are therapists, although a therapist could choose to become a Life Coach.  A Life Coaches role in an individuals’ life differs significantly from the typical doctor patient relationship.  Life Coaches consider themselves equal to the people they tutor, not superior.  Their primary goal is to help individuals set goals for their lives, focusing only on the present and the future.  Because they lack a proven process such as Subconscious Restructuring, many Life Coaches seldom deal in emotions. Life Coaches are typically far less concerned about the past than most therapists. Life Coaches focus on the future.

If you would like to achieve more out of life but are a bit unsure about how to proceed, a Life Coach may be able to help you start your personal development journey.  Below are 7 tips for hiring a Life Coach:

1. Hire someone you feel comfortable with.

You’ll be spending a lot of time with your new Life Coach so it’s important to choose someone with whom you get along well.  Just like a good teacher can make the difference in your academic endeavors, a life coach whom you trust and get along with is essential for your personal/professional changes. Life is much too short to spend time with people you dislike.

You should choose someone who can be objective to your overall goals.  Do you want competency or companionship?  You are not looking for another friend but rather someone to keep you accountable to the standard you know you can achieve.  Avoid people who are too close to you such as family and close friends.

2. Has your Interests in Mind.

Make certain that whoever you hire has your best interests in mind.  You can find differences among life coaches such as you would find differences among any other practitioner.  Find someone to work with who is genuinely interested in your success and try to avoid those people who are merely trying to “hitch a ride”.

One way to establish a connection is to explain to your Life Coach the goals you have for your life and ask for feedback on how he/she will proceed.  How many times a month will you meet?  What communication channels will you use to connect?  What kind of access do you have to them?  Most importantly, do you believe this person will give you a solid chance on establishing the changes you want to see?

3. Communicates Well.

It is very important that your Life Coach is able to clearly communicate his plans for helping you achieve your goals.  The ability to communicate effectively is extremely important in establishing a winning relationship.  Insist upon an open line of communication where each party feels equally comfortable expressing their views.

Your relationship with your Life Coach will evolve and grow over time as your needs and requirements do. The only way to ensure you are moving forward together on the same page is through consistent and concise communication. You have to be willing to step up to the plate and voice your opinion, and your Life Coach has to be able to keep that communication going.

4. Hire someone who is qualified.

The application and interview process should be taken quite seriously, and used to find the very best person for the help you want.  Hiring a life coach is an important task, and therefore your qualifying criteria should help to establish your best chance of success.

Many people wonder if you should get a Life Coach who is certified or not.  This is a great question and will depend on your ultimate goal.  In theory, certified Life Coaches have been taught how work with you to achieve your goal.  However, because it is a school, not everyone that graduates as a Life Coach is as effective at retaining and applying that they have learned.

Uncertified Life Coaches who have been practicing on the other hand many have developed many skills although they haven’t gone to school.  The comparison between a certified and uncertified Life Coach is very similar to a licensed mechanic and a hobby mechanic.  You can find the good, bad and ugly in both cases.

Make certain that the person you hire has the experience for helping you effectively.  What types of coaching has he/she done in the past and how does it apply to your situation.

5. Check References.

Remember, when you hire a Life Coach, you are the employer.  Talk to people who have used this person’s services in the past, and get a feel for what to expect.  Do they have testimonials that you can check?  What do the testimonials and feedback tell you about working with this person.

What kind of vibe do you get from the people who have left references or testimonials?  Can you identify with their problem/situation/personality?  For obvious reasons it is always a good idea to avoid people with characteristics detrimental to your plan.

6. Hire a Motivator

If the first meeting with your new Life Coach fails to get you excited about the goals you seek in life, the person is probably not for you.  This doesn’t mean that you should feel excited because the person you hired is going to solve the problem for you. The motivation you feel should come from knowing that by working with this person, it is only a matter of time before you get the results you want.

Your Life Coach should be a champion to your cause, a partner towards your success and a support tool to hold you accountable.  Your Life Coach should be excited about your future and that excitement should be infectious.  Choose somebody who can truly motivate you towards great things.

7. Has Connections.

It certainly is not mandatory to hire only those people with connections in the area you seek assistance, but it sure does help.  Your Life Coach will work with you to plan your life, setting goals and objectives for each step.  Connections to important people in your particular field can greatly enhance the chance for success.  Sometimes it really does come down to “who you know.”

Does your Life Coach have professional connections and a team of people working along side them?  Do you feel comfortable in the hands of this extended support network?  Could they easily refer you out to another trusted professional if needed?

Keep these things in mind when you are ready to hire your Life Coach.  Remember that the process is all about you, and the proper person should be someone whom you trust with your dreams.  If you would like to see how Russ conducts his famous “Exploration Sessions”, which are known for leaving people feeling motivated and excited about the changes they seek, contact him today and ask to be put on the next available schedule.