Taming Our Limiting Beliefs
I work with an executive who is making six figures and supporting her family as a single mother, and has a value around stability, but she hates her job but really believes that she can’t leave it because of her family. Her perception is that she cannot make a VP salary at any other company. This is what she says stands in in her way of moving into fulfilling work.
I work with an executive who is making six figures and supporting her family as a single mother, and has a value around stability, but she hates her job but really believes that she can’t leave it because of her family. Her perception is that she cannot make a VP salary at any other company. This is what she says stands in in her way of moving into fulfilling work.
Is this true? She asks… No, in watching the labor market and knowing her skills, education and background. My career coach instinct says this is not true. But we agree it is her limiting belief.
Of course, people who live in glass houses….
I also have limiting beliefs. I have wrestled constantly with my beliefs around being a working mother. I have limiting beliefs about my freedom being self-employed vs working inside a company.
Limiting beliefs are those which constrain us in some way. Just by believing them, we do not think, do or say the things that they inhibit.
We may have beliefs about rights, duties, abilities, permissions and so on. Limiting beliefs are often about ourselves and our self-identity. The beliefs may also be about other people and the world in general.
In any case, they sadly limit us.
Let’s look at eliminating beliefs and fear. Here are some simple steps:
1. Normalize your fear. Everyone has gremlins, inner critics and limiting beliefs. We all have them. This is what they sound like. These are the kinds of things they say to you. They say ‘you’re never going to get a job this good’ or ‘at your age, who’s going to hire you’. Or you can never make that kind of money doing xyz.
2. Shine a light on the critic, the limiting belief. When we shine a light on our particular variety of those critics and exactly what they’re saying to us we have some power around them and we have some choice around them. She could decide to stay at that job and that’s an absolutely okay choice, but choosing to stay and honoring her value of stability above all else is now a choice because she’s shined a light on the limiting belief and she’s named it and there’s power in that. She can powerfully choose that for herself and her family.
3. Learn how to quiet the gremlin. How do we move past them or around them? How do we work with them? I don’t think you get rid of them. They tend to diffuse when they get a little air time.
FIELD WORK: FIELD WORK: What your signature inner critic sound? What is the belief that you’re holding? How do you know if that’s true? Wanna chat it through? Give me a call.
Are You Playing To Your Strengths?
If I asked you: Are you playing to your strengths and doing it every day, what would you say? Would you have to think about it for a while or could you answer with a resounding “Yes!” Or would you want us to explain more about what we really mean by that phrase?
If I asked you: Are you playing to your strengths and doing it every day, what would you say? Would you have to think about it for a while or could you answer with a resounding “Yes!” Or would you want us to explain more about what we really mean by that phrase?
Playing to your strengths is doing work that you’re not only good at, but that you love.
Why is it important that we ask? Well, we know that people who focus on their strengths are more than 3 times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life.
Sounds good, right? But you know what? Sadly, Gallup research tells us that less than 20% of us have the opportunity to do what we do best every day. Ouch.
So, are you playing to your strengths every day? If not, are willing to take my help to get there?
Top Three Questions for a Strengths-Based Career
What kinds of activities are you doing in your career – each week, month, year – that make you feel strong? We recommend these top three questions to ask yourself when looking for a strengths-based career:
1. Can I use my strengths on a regular basis in this career?
2. Is this career consistent with my values?
3. Will I have an opportunity to do what I love to do in this career?
If your answer is No to any of these three questions, let’s talk!
Empowering Individuals
Possibilities Coaching focuses on helping you find work you love. I work with you to help you get promoted, find a new role in your current company, or even change your career completely. People hire a coach for many different reasons; below are some of the recent areas we have successfully worked with people to:
- Change their current career after a lay-off,
- Build one-to-one interview skills or critique their resume,
- Return to work after being at home with children,
- Establish a balanced work-life situation