You have a goal, don’t you?
Why haven’t you achieved it yet?
Are you not working hard enough? Have you not found a strategy that works? Or is it something else?
Is there something deep down inside that holds you back? A little voice that sprinkles doubt into your every action? A voice that stops you from going all in when you fully intend to make the commitment?
That voice is only reminding you of the beliefs you’ve allowed to take root in your subconscious mind.
Not to sound too eerie, but these beliefs are haunting. They control your every move—even if you don’t know it.
The worst part:
They halt your growth and progress and will continue to do so until you eradicate them.
These toxic beliefs taint your every effort and ensure that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never succeed.
You’re in luck, though.
These beliefs, no matter how deeply rooted in your mind, can be exterminated and replaced with beliefs that promote growth.
It’s time to uncover these harmful beliefs and do some mind-detoxing.
Are you ready?
The 7 Toxic Beliefs That Are Holding You Back
Toxic Belief #1: Achievement and Success Is for a Certain Type of Person
The people who achieve their goals are the A-type personalities who are always on the top of their game, right?
You, on the other hand, are normal. You don’t have any special talents or interests. You are far from perfect.
How could you be in the ranks of Tim Ferris or Bill Gates?
This belief manifests itself through self-doubt. Before initiating a project, you find yourself wondering if you’ll be able to succeed. You wonder if you should even try.
The truth is…
Bill Gates, Tony Robbins, Steve Jobs, and all the other successful people you can name are just normal people who worked hard on their dreams.
Just like you, they made mistakes, doubted themselves, and wondered if they were made of the ‘right stuff’.
They were ordinary people who had a vision they were willing to pursue.
You are someone who can achieve your goals and become the person you want to be. If you don’t have the knowledge or skills, know that you are a person who can grow and learn.
Toxic Belief #2: Going After What You Want Is Too Risky—You Can’t Afford the Costs
Going after your goals means investing time, energy, and sometimes money. It may mean taking time off work or passing on social gatherings. You couldn’t do that.
The bills aren’t going to pay themselves. Mary is going to throw a fit if you don’t attend her party.
It’s not worth it… right?
Oftentimes, we exaggerate the true costs of achieving our goals. It’s a mental defense to avoid change.
You don’t really need to take time off work; you can make progress in your free time or on the weekends. Yes, you may have to give up your TV time, but what’s more important to you: your success or the latest episode of Bridgerton?
Really consider the costs of going after what you want. Are they real or are you overestimating what could happen?
(Take a look at the sacrifices that others have made in order to achieve extreme success here.)
If the risk is real, consider how you can minimize it. If you can’t do anything about it, consider how much you want what you’re after.
If you really want it, you’ll find a way to make it work. Sometimes, the risk is worth taking.
Toxic Belief #3: You Don’t Have the Time/Motivation/Resources…
We often fool ourselves into believing that everything needs to be available to us to achieve our goals.
We need time, then we need energy, then we need the right tools, and the list goes on and on.
You’ll always be able to find something you don’t have to convince yourself to not chase your dreams. You say you’ll work toward success someday when everything falls into place.
That’s never going to happen!
Every successful person you know has created their own ideal circumstances. They didn’t wait for the opportune moment.
Steve Jobs started building his first computer in his parents’ garage. He could have easily said, ‘I don’t have a lab, how am I supposed to make a computer?’
You say you don’t have time, but you have time to scroll through your phone and watch YouTube. How is it that you can find time for such activities but not for your own accomplishments?
The context will never be right. It’s up to you to create the circumstances you need to achieve.
Toxic Belief #4: There’s No Point in Trying—What I Want Is Too Far-Fetched
What you want is too far out of reach. You could try, but what’s the point? There’s no way you could ever attain the level of success you desire.
Everyone tells you to set realistic goals. They say if you set your goals too high, you’ll never reach them.
You believed them and lowered the bar. You accepted mediocrity, but those aspirations still stir inside you.
You became convinced that you’ll never achieve the greatness you seek, so you stopped trying.
Here are the facts:
If you set your mind on something and give it your all, nothing can stand in your way.
I once read a quote that changed the way I looked at obstacles. “Nothing can resist the human will that will stake even its existence on its stated purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli.
Don’t give in to the belief that what you want isn’t obtainable. You can accomplish amazing things if you give yourself the chance.
(Forget realistic goals, these are the goals you should set instead.)
Toxic Belief #5: No One Supports You—They’ll Think You’re Crazy
How many friends do you think you’ll lose if you go after your goals? Will they make fun of the decisions you make?
Our families and friends look out for our best interests. That means they try to deter you from making decisions that deviate from the norm because the norm is safe.
When I started building my business, my friends and family considered it to be a hobby and expected me to let it go after a few months. When I started focusing more and more of my time and efforts on it, they informed me repeatedly that it would never work.
On your journey to victory, you will find many people who don’t believe in your upcoming success story. They will try to discourage you. Don’t let them instill doubt instill into your vision.
“No one else is supposed to understand your calling, it wasn’t a conference call.”
Toxic Belief #6: You Have Too Much on Your Plate Already
You may postpone your goals because you already have too much to do.
Your goals need continuous effort and dedication. You can’t work on them when you are overwhelmed with work and family drama.
At a superficial level, you could take this as a valid excuse to not pursue your dreams. But often, we let this belief go on longer than it should.
Putting off your goals for when you can give them your all is a good idea, but only if the delay is temporary.
If you’ve been telling yourself that you’re too busy to work on your goals for the past year, you need to reevaluate your priorities.
The fact is:
If you make your goals a priority, you will be able to find the time for them.
(Check out my non-traditional method of setting priorities. It makes life so much simpler.)
We make time for what we care about whether that’s spending time with loved ones, stalking the British Royals, or working toward your success.
Toxic Belief #7: You Missed the Chance—It’s Too Late Now
Are you convinced that you’re too old to achieve your goals? Have you missed out on the opportunities? Did you have the wrong major in college and now are stuck in the wrong field?
A common reason we hold back from achieving our goals is because we believe that we’ve missed the opportunity.
There are no second chances in life, after all.
This is far from the truth.
It’s never too late to pursue your goals. You can pursue your goals at any age. Amy Craton graduated college at 94 years old!
As for opportunities, they are abundant for those who are willing to take advantage of them. Just because you missed one opening doesn’t mean you need to give up—another may be on its way.
Never fall into the belief that you’ve missed the chance to go after what you want.
Your Beliefs Become Your Actions
The stories you’ve heard and the experiences you’ve had influence the way you perceive obstacles, objectives, and triumph.
Your beliefs dictate your actions. If you believe you can succeed, your actions will guide you to make it happen. If you hold one of the toxic beliefs, you’ll hold yourself back.
Fortunately, these beliefs aren’t ingrained in your mind and you can challenge them. Morph these toxic perceptions into ones that drive you toward achievement.
What beliefs do you have? Are they pulling you toward success or pushing you into mediocrity?