4 Tools That Helped Me Overcome Limiting Beliefs

To let go of those negative beliefs about introversion

8 min read

Many introverts get told as children that there’s something wrong with them because we talk quieter, don’t talk much, and need time to think. That’s how limiting beliefs start in your subconscious.

School is a stimulation overload, especially with trying to fit in, social groups, and bullying. So, in retrospect, it’s clear why I was quiet and overwhelmed.

I hated a game we played in English class. Like baseball, you have four bases, and you need to answer a question correctly to get to the next base. But the thing was, you were competing with three other people, and the fastest one won.

I never even got to first base because I was never as fast as the others. I was good at school, and I think I knew the answers (I don’t remember exactly), but I was really bad at the game. Why? because introverts’ brains are wired differently.

We process everything more slowly. I was never good at those fast-reaction games. We process a lot at the same time, and when there is stimulation overload, plus the nervousness of standing in front of the class. My mind was empty.

No word could get out of my mouth.

Those kinds of failures limited my beliefs about how successful I could be.

I thought there was something wrong with me because I was quiet.

So, in this newsletter, I want to tell you about how I grew and let go of limiting beliefs. I’m definitely not over all of them, but I released some in the last few years.

Mindset is a significant part of our lives because our brain decides how we see the world, what we can achieve, and what we deserve.

And most of that mindset, with its limiting beliefs, was shaped during your childhood through experiences, traumas, struggles, and shared wisdom. It’s buried in your subconscious and decides over your life automatically.

After high school, I decided to study media technology because I was good at math, I liked programming, the university wasn’t far away from home, and a teacher of mine studied it too.

But deep down, I wanted to study architecture. I told nobody about it, but my limiting beliefs kept me from going down that path. “I’m not creative enough”, “Architects don’t make a lot of money”, “The university is too far away”,…

A few years later, in my first job after I finished my bachelor’s, I was almost depressed, and you know what happened? I needed months to get over my limiting beliefs, but I decided to study architecture.

I was ambitious (and at that time unhappy enough) to change my path.

Most of the people just stay in their jobs because they have limiting beliefs like:

“I’m too old to change”
“I have a steady job and it would be reckless to give that up”
“I have a family to take care of”
“I’m not smart/creative/ambitious/extroverted enough”
“I don’t have the money”
“I don’t have the time”

Do you really have time to stay stuck?

I want to show you some practical tools you can use immediately to help you let go of limiting beliefs. It only takes a few minutes per day to shift your mindset.

Mindset Tools

Affirmations

3 minutes per day

How do you talk to yourself? Are you judging yourself for every small mistake you make or for every flaw you have?

Would you talk to your best friend like you talk to yourself? No? Then we have to change that!

Your thoughts are defining your habits and behavior, which define your life. You can’t think negatively about yourself and at the same time try to find happiness.

Here’s an unpopular truth: you only have this body, mind, and life 24/7 for the rest of your life.

You can’t change that fact. But you can change what to do with it!

And here’s a popular truth: you can shape your body, mind, and life by working on yourself.

This newsletter is about changing your mind, and that starts by thinking more positively about yourself by saying kind words to yourself. Affirmations is the key word here.

When I first heard about “talking to myself in the mirror,” I thought it was some stupid spirituality thing. But after talking to myself for a few years now, I can tell you: it really works!

It’s only for you. You are alone in front of your mirror, saying nice things to yourself. I know you can find those 3 minutes to do that.

So what should you tell yourself? That’s up to you. Whatever feels right.

Ask AI or Google to give you some options, and then choose the ones you like. There are also some great podcast episodes or playlists on Spotify with affirmations. I like to listen to them while working out or doing my makeup.

Here are some of my affirmations:

“I love you.”
“Money and wealth come to me freely and abundantly.”
“I’m healthy.”
“I’m strong.”
“I achieve everything I set my mind to.”

Journaling

5 to 10 minutes per day

I’m being honest: I don’t do this regularly because for me, writing this newsletter is already like journaling. I’m usually too tired in the evening to rethink the day and think deeply.

But just a few days ago, I started again. This time it’s a really fast way of journaling with 3 points:

what I’m grateful for
my goals
reflections of the day

It doesn’t matter what works for you: long or fast journaling, 1 minute or 30 minutes… It’s important to journal daily at some point that fits you.

Because introverts love to overthink, we need to process more, but we’re slower. Journaling helps you process things faster and helps you let go of overthinking.

Whenever you write down a challenge or worry, you let it go out of your mind, and you are free to see a different perspective. It can change your view of the struggle or even the world.

Gratitude

2 minutes per day

Being grateful for what you have helps you be mindful and in the present. We tend to think of everything we did wrong in the past and what we want to do in the future.

But neither is here at the moment. You are.

Happiness can only be found in the present because that’s all we’ve got. Being grateful for what you have is the first step.

I have goals and dreams too, but first, I need to be happy with where I am today. If you’re not, you can change that!

Start by writing down 3 things you’re grateful for daily. For experts: level up by not repeating the same things.

I included this habit in my daily journaling in the evening. I have a notebook next to my bed, and before I turn off the lights, I take 2 minutes to find something positive today.

It doesn’t just help you fall asleep in a better mood, but it also helps you be more mindful during the day, looking for things to be grateful for.

What I was grateful for yesterday evening:

my existence
interesting courses and podcasts
music

Meditation

10 to 20 minutes per day

When you’re new to personal development and mindset changes, I recommend you start with the first points, and after you’ve established those habits, you can start meditating. Meditation is hard at the beginning.

It took me months (maybe a year) of daily practice to control my thoughts most of the time.

I started without knowing much, and it was hard to sit quietly and focus on my breath. I would do it differently now and start with guided meditations.

You find great ones on Spotify or YouTube.

Meditation will teach you patience and experimentation. After more than 8 years of meditating, I still have bad days when I can’t stop my mind from spinning.

But it’s 1000% worth it to do it daily because those calming minutes are what keep me sane on the bad days. This is me prioritizing myself and my mental health.

Secret tip: if you have a specific mindset topic, find a meditation for it and let it change your mind. I’m currently listening to money mindset meditations, and they help me calmly introduce new thoughts about money and wealth. Here’s the one I’m listening to.

To wrap it up

Those short daily habits can help you let go of limiting beliefs about introversion you got from your childhood. They have helped me let go for years now.

They seem insignificant on a day-to-day view, but with consistency, they can change your whole mindset.

Take a moment now and set yourself a daily reminder to do them. Else, you’re gonna forget about them after you’re done reading.

And if you already have experience with some of these tools, tell me and the other readers how it helped you improve your life.