7 Beliefs That Limit Personal Growth

There is a popular saying that we hear every day, it says “Everything is in the mind”. And even if it is true, sometimes it seems that we lose sight of the great truth that is contained in it: thoughts govern our lives for good and bad. In fact, there are many beliefs that limit personal growth, and yet we do not quite accept it.

There is an example that shows this very clearly. Suppose someone blindly believes in an amulet . One day he loses it and feels that since then everything has gone wrong for him. Could it be that, for example, a pendant or a bracelet has the power to determine life? If we think about it at a rational level, we would answer that no, but whoever has it and believes in it, will not doubt it for a second.

From the outside, it is clear that these types of beliefs limit personal growth. But for those who have these convictions, it is not like that. Well, there are many who do not believe in this pendant, but they do believe in certain ideas that have the same effect as the amulet. These are 7 of those cases.

1. Lack or deficiency, one of the beliefs that limit personal growth

This is one of those beliefs that limits personal growth because it bases everything on something that is missing. It is typical of those people who tell themselves that they are not pretty enough or smart or wealthy or whatever. And that deficiency is what prevents your happiness.

This is a clearly wrong belief. It fulfills the function of diverting attention from the real problem: not accepting yourself.  Now, having something in excess does not guarantee happiness to anyone. Furthermore, every human being has some attributes and lacks others as well.

2. Thinking that it is better not to feel

Experiencing strong suffering always leaves marks. However, in some people these become real stigmas. All they want is to no longer suffer or experience pain. Their desire is so strong that they make a very drastic decision to “stop feeling.”

This, of course, is impossible. What does happen is that they inhibit their feelings to such an extent that it is as if they did not experience them. However, this also deprives them of many wonderful experiences and prevents them from  learning to cope with the sufferings that, sooner or later, will appear in life.

3. Suppose that being better than others makes you happy

In this case the others are simple points of reference for oneself. A measure of our ego. If we overcome them, we will feel satisfied with ourselves. If we don’t, we will experience frustration and irritation.

This is one of the beliefs that limit personal growth because it leads us to see the relationship with others as a competition. No one is better or worse than anyone. You can simply act more or less correctly, in specific circumstances.

4. Believe that our life is more difficult than that of others

It is what we also know as “victimhood.” It is an illusory belief that leads us to think that we are always in a worse situation than others. That only we suffer to that extent or we have so many problems.

It is an egocentric belief that tries to justify our suffering or our frustration. In reality, in anyone’s life there are joys and pains. Measuring the intensity that this has in each person is absolutely impossible.

5. Thinking that by obtaining something happiness will be achieved

Happiness is above all an attitude and an integral feeling. It does not depend on an object or a fact. It implies having built a good level of harmony in front of life. Also having developed humility, optimism and hope.

You are not more or less happy about something external. These are the kinds of beliefs that limit personal growth. We will not feel more fulfilled, in a stable way, with a new car or a new partner. Either happiness is within, or it is nowhere.

6. Convince yourself that life is suffering

It is said that many times we cannot choose whether or not to have problems. What we can choose is to suffer or not to suffer because of them. Some see difficulties as a challenge, an opportunity to force themselves to be better. Others think they are totally negative.

In the latter case, one of the beliefs that limit personal growth may develop. Assuming that suffering for everything is normal. That there is no choice. That this really is a valley of tears and that one only leaves one pain to enter another. You even end up thinking that even the good is just an omen of the bad.

7. Believe that something or someone explains our pain

There are those who choose to explain their frustrations or limitations by hiding in an external factor. They think that if it were not for their parents or unemployment, or the injustice of the world they would be completely happy. In a word, they blame something outside for what they feel inside. This is false. The human being has the ability to transcend obstacles, whenever he sets his mind to it.

As we can see, all these beliefs that limit personal growth seep into life imperceptibly. Without realizing it, we turn them into a kind of recipe that allows us to interpret everything. Finally, they only lead us to stagnate and prevent us from seeing the full breadth of the panorama that we have in front and side by side.