What Limits Do You Place on Yourself that Slows Your Progress?
Are we hardwired to automatically place limits on ourselves? We set limits on our earning potential, on how much we can accomplish in life. We are either too young or too old, have too much or too little education and the reasons go on and on about why we cannot do something. Many of us suffer from excusitis. And, I was no different until I started to pay close attention to the stories I tell myself about why I did not honor commitments to myself.
Setting limits have been around for a long time. Take the popular story Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, in recent versions of the story there are only three wishes granted, but in the original story of Aladdin, which is a Middle-Eastern folk tale (found in Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights), there were no limitations on the number of wishes granted. Whose great idea was it to limit the number of wishes granted to three?
A common story that I would tell myself is that I am tired and it is late so I cannot perform a critical task. But when I reframe the story and instead tell myself, yes it is late but the task is important, I find that I get a sudden burst of energy and I am able to perform the task. As soon as I remove the self-imposed limit on how much I can do, my productivity soars and I also accomplish so much more in any given day. The truth is that we can do and be much more than we tell ourselves.
Join the conversation, what limits do you place on yourself? We can learn from each other. Let's keep the conversation flowing, share your view point by commenting!
Avil Beckford
Setting limits have been around for a long time. Take the popular story Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, in recent versions of the story there are only three wishes granted, but in the original story of Aladdin, which is a Middle-Eastern folk tale (found in Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights), there were no limitations on the number of wishes granted. Whose great idea was it to limit the number of wishes granted to three?
A common story that I would tell myself is that I am tired and it is late so I cannot perform a critical task. But when I reframe the story and instead tell myself, yes it is late but the task is important, I find that I get a sudden burst of energy and I am able to perform the task. As soon as I remove the self-imposed limit on how much I can do, my productivity soars and I also accomplish so much more in any given day. The truth is that we can do and be much more than we tell ourselves.
Join the conversation, what limits do you place on yourself? We can learn from each other. Let's keep the conversation flowing, share your view point by commenting!
Avil Beckford
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ellery Bennett on -
Avil,
Limitations are incredible, I like to tell people to take their foot off the brake, the only person that stops you is yourself. When people take the time to look into the mirror, look themselves in the eyes and make a choice on what it is that they believe they can achieve, then they can pursue their desires. The problem is most won't take the time to take the necessary steps to identify what they want, yet alone create the game plan to achieve the results desired.
I have been guilty of setting limitations for myself, I remember when I started my business almost 3 years ago, I created a goal that I would leave Corporate America in 15 months. Where did I come up with that timeframe? The answer was FEAR, I had no idea that I could generate the type of income that would allow me to fire my boss and work full time as an entrepreneur. I continued to work my job 12 months instead of the 15 months, finally I fired my boss. Once again, setting limitations caused me to deal with a job that made me miserable before I recognized the courage was in me to leave the rat race.
For those that set limitations on themselves, which is most people, a major step in the right direction is to become clear on what you want. Attract the vehicle that will assist you to get there and take the necessary action steps to travel down the path to reach your goals. Limitations will not continue to block your path when you are clear on where you are going.
Do you believe in the Be, Do, Have Principle?
Make It A Great Day,
Ellery Bennett
313-590-3347 (Cell)
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Permalink Reply by Avil Beckford on -
Ellery,
Yes, I believe in the Be Do Have principle and the key is Do. With the popularity of the Secret and Law of Attraction the action piece has disappeared.
Most of us set limitations on ourselves without realizing it. And most people set their goals too low so they are not challenged enough.
What do others think about self-imposed limits?
Avil Beckford
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Permalink Reply by Wilma van Zwietering on -
Hi Avil,
A very interesting question "What limit do you place on yourself that slows your process"? At the same time, I think a too difficult question for most people to give an answer to it.
You can be limited by so many things. Your parental environment with their points of view of "what ought to be" or "don't ought to be". Your own life experiences and the effect of it on your personal development. Do you have self-confidence or do you lack it? Are you able to take risks if needed or do you keep to what is known and feels safe?
It's very hard to liberate yourself from believings that prevent you from moving on and undertake new experiences. I have been in that process myself.
The moment I could make my mind free of all ballast from my past there came space to undertake new experiences. Even the ones I have always believed of it's nothing for me and wouldn't work. I proceed step by step and I feel really happy when I see good results and it empowers me to go on following the path I have chosen to.
Now the sky is my limit. I deal with difficulties the best I can and keep on trusting everything will be fine as long as I keep believing in myself!
Who's next to contribute to this conversation?
Best regards,
Wilma van Zwietering
P.S. To learn more about me go to http://sta.rtup.biz/profile/wilmavanzwietering.
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Permalink Reply by Avil Beckford on
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Wilma, Isn't it very liberating when you free yourself? Avil
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Permalink Reply by Wilma van Zwietering on
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Yes, it is Avil. It's very amazing the moment you have turned off the ropes that has tied you for so long, everything seems to go so naturally! Wilma
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Bennett on -
Hi Avil,
Great question! As humans, we tend to set limits in all aspects of our lives. How much time a day will we spend on our work? How much time do we make in the week to see friends or family? What about time to do basic necessities like wash clothes, clean house or grocery shop? We have been taught to limit and schedule things out. In school, we had so many class periods a day which lasted an hour max. We arrived and left school at the same time everyday. At work, we would punch in at a certain time and punch out at a certain time. We worked so many days a week. Everywhere we go, we have limits whether we impose them or they have been imposed.
For myself, I tend to do the same. I schedule things out and work until a certain time in the day. I know I have things to do and responsibilities in my life. I guess I tend to hold myself back when I have not finished what needs to be done in that day and do not stay over per say to finish the next task at hand. For me, I do not do well when I push myself......my productivity declines, I get tired and cranky.
Maybe I listen to my body as I have learned to do that. Maybe I work until my body tells me to stop. I do not see it as a hinderance as much as I see it as using common sense. If I ignored my body and kept going, I would burn out. I have learned to pace myself......
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