Time to lose a few L.B.s

No, not "lbs," L.B.s

Be honest: How many thinly veiled weight loss messages (“New Year, New You!”) have you been bombarded with?

(Yeah, me too. And it’s only mid-January!)

I know this is traditionally a time people vow to lose weight, but here’s an alternative suggestion: Instead of losing a few lbs, why not shed some L.B.s (aka Limiting Beliefs)?

Limiting beliefs are those things that prevent us from progressing. They make up the insidious narrative we play on repeat inside our heads that convinces us we’re not good enough, talented enough, or experienced enough to go after what we want.

Worse, sometimes they’re not even our own, but instead, L.B.s cast upon us by other people that we’ve adopted as our own.

And those L.B.s are especially heavy.

Like most bad things, limiting beliefs are rooted in the F-word (no, not *that* F-word): FEAR.

The problem is that fear-based things are sneaky little suckers.

Fear is a powerful emotion. It often masquerades as a cloak of protection, keeping us from doing things that may cause us harm. But sometimes, the real damage comes from the inaction that fear enables.

And inaction = stagnation. Uh, no thanks.

Here’s how to recognize those red flags and combat fear:

🚩 Red flag #1: Negative self-talk rules your internal dialogue

Self-sabotaging talk kills dreams and is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It plants seeds of doubt, so we succumb to the negative stories echoing in our heads.

How to combat it: Change the stories you tell yourself

Words have power. Replace self-sabotaging talk with self-affirming talk, abandon limiting beliefs, and adopt a growth-focused mindset. 

🚩 Red flag #2: “________ is holding me back”

It’s easy to think that other forces—your boss, the pandemic—block your path. However, what prevents you from growing isn’t external; it’s internal. 

How to combat it: Take responsibility for your growth

Muster the courage to acknowledge and tackle your fears to get out of your own way, gain traction, and go after your goals.

🚩 Red flag #3: You’re “should-ing” all over yourself

You have a good life, despite the uncertainty of the pandemic swirling around you. You should be grateful, happy, and feel guilty for wanting something different when so many would kill to be in your shoes.

How to combat it: Realize that “good enough” rarely is

It’s hard to admit what you want and easy to settle for something short of that “risky” path. Lose the fear about going after what’s missing and start exploring.

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So maybe this January, the only “weight” you need to lose is the Limiting Beliefs you still cling to.

And speaking of shedding unnecessary and outdated things, I share the top five things to lose to improve your career in my latest Forbes article.

Shine on,

Amy

P.S. Now that we’re inbox-exclusive (love that about us!), why not follow my musings across the interwebs on Forbes, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram too? And if you really want to get meta, subscribe to my new weekly LinkedIn newsletter, momentum, featuring insights to help you maintain positive motion and continually grow your career. (As a bonus, it links to ALL of my content for the week, so you’ll never miss a thing and keep the momentum going!)

P.P.S. When I’m not writing this newsletter or busy shedding my limiting beliefs, I’m a social media ghostwriter. (Yep, that’s a thing). I help founders, entrepreneurs, and CXOs craft their stories to communicate and connect better by magnifying their reach and impact. (Think personal branding and thought leadership.) Learn more here.

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