Are These 10 Negative Beliefs Holding You Back?


negative beliefs

With 2015 finally here, it’s a good time to commit to bettering yourself and your business in the new year.

Unfortunately, there may still be some thoughts and beliefs keeping you from growing. These beliefs could be subconsciously holding you back. This year, try to make a point to stop hindering yourself. Based on some thoughts from Luminita D. Saviuc, the Purpose Fairy, here are some common negative beliefs that may be keeping you from reaching your full potential.

1. I’m Not Good Enough

One common toxic belief many people have struggled with at one point is that they are not good enough. Perhaps in your business you have come up against a particularly big challenge and aren’t sure how to overcome it. Perhaps you have experienced a disheartening setback. But the belief you aren’t good enough, talented enough or smart enough makes it difficult to make the changes needed to improve and overcome. Remind yourself as often as possible that you can better your situation. Tell yourself also that you have more than enough resources to meet the next challenge. Address the issues before you and take a deep breath. Then tell yourself that you can do it if you set your mind to it. You’ve made it this far.

2. It’s Better to Blend in than Stand Out

The idea of becoming one of the herd and conforming to what others think your business should be sounds like the safe choice. But doing so rather than following your own course keeps you from truly being happy or improving your situation. If you spend all your time and energy trying to mimic others, you are holding back innovation.

Saviuc suggests:

“Instead of going where everyone is going, and doing what everyone else is doing, choose to do what you know in your heart is best for you.”

3. I’ve Lost My Purpose

When hard times and setbacks come, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve lost your purpose. Remember, your purpose is to grow and develop as a person and a business owner. If you feel as though you’ve lost purpose, remind yourself you are still moving forward toward your ultimate goal. Remind yourself of the vision you had for your business when you began and everything else will become secondary.

4. I’m Not Happy Until I’ve Reached My End Goal

If you’re not happy in the process of reaching your dreams, you’re going to spend a lot of time resenting all the work you need to put in to achieve them. That’s a waste of energy and creativity. It’s important to enjoy and take pride in your work. Give up the idea of not being happy until you’re finished. Enjoy the ride. The trip can be almost as satisfying as the destination. Look at each small task as a step towards your ultimate goal.

5. This is Too Hard

Don’t limit yourself because something seems out of reach or too difficult. Stop thinking about the obstacles and the energy and sacrifice required to overcome them. Instead, embrace each challenge as an opportunity to improve. Try to look past the difficulty of each task. Consider, instead, how great the payoff will be. If you take the extra step, your business will reflect that, and people will notice.

6. I Don’t Need Help from Anyone

Although independence is a wonderful trait for both the individual and the entrepreneur, be careful  not to take this to extremes. The ability to realize when you need help and the willingness to seek it, are just as important.

Saviuc urges:

“Give up this limiting and toxic belief about how asking for help and opening yourself up to receiving other people’s help and assistance is a sign of weakness, something only weak people do.”

Sometimes it’s better to seek out help from someone with more experience. Your work will benefit, as will your relationships. Showing humility and being able to ask for someone’s advice shows strength and good judgement.

7. It’s Too Late

Thinking that it’s too late to reignite the fire is another toxic belief that many small business owners and others can easily fall prey to. But remember, it’s never too late to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. If things seem too daunting, try breaking up the tasks between you and your goal into smaller, more manageable chunks. You’ll feel a sense of relief each time you mark something off your list. And eventually you’ll realize your objective.

8. I Can’t Trust Anyone, Including Myself

Trust is an important part of building relationships. And those relationships are critical for both personal and a business growth. Don’t be afraid to talk to people and let them in. You might be surprised with the results.

Saviuc suggests:

“Give up this limiting and toxic belief that you can’t be trusted, that the people around you can’t be trusted, and that life itself can’t be trusted. We all make mistakes, none of us is perfect, but that doesn’t mean we can no longer trust in one another.”

9. I’m Alone in This

You are never alone. Remember that your customers, partners, employees, investors, family and even your fellow entrepreneurs have a vested interest in your business. There are people around you who want to see you succeed. The world is full of people. Just reach out to a few of them. If there is a problem, ask others in your community for ideas on how to improve things.

10. Someone Else is to Blame

Give up the idea that everything is the fault of someone else. Stepping up and taking responsibility is the first step in fixing a problem. You’ll evolving into a better business owner and, for that matter, a better person as a result.

Saviuc advises:

“Stop giving your power away to forces outside of you and learn to take responsibility for your life.”

Don’t surrender your power. Seize it. And use this as an opportunity to remind yourself never to relinquish control of your life or business again.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help banish some of the negative thoughts and emotions that could cripple your business in the new year. If you feel we’ve missed any here, please leave them in the comment section below.


Negativity Photo via Shutterstock

6 Comments ▼

Aubrielle Billig Aubrielle Billig is a Staff Writer for Small Business Trends. She covers business as it is impacted by pop culture, entrepreneurs in the arts, and other topics affecting creative businesses. She has a background as an illustrator and her design page can be found at AubrielleBillustrations.

6 Reactions
  1. Would love to see a companion post about positive beliefs that can launch you in 2015.

  2. I have to say that I am guilty of these. But you really have to fight all of these within yourself. You can try countering it but you have to prove to yourself that you have it in you to succeed.

  3. Well I personally feel that such feeling needs to be do away with. Rather all positive enthusiasm needs to be brought about to get out of negative beliefs. So that a new beginning can to be made.

  4. Love the post. It is very timely to kick off the year. My personal favorite is #6. Don’t try to go it alone. Not even a super human can do it. Ask for help and learn from others.

  5. These are all beliefs that hold us back but fortunately, there are ways to address them. I have only good things to say about cognitive-behavioral therapy. I have always taken an eclectic approach in my work in mental health and designed my approach to the individual. Letting go of limiting beliefs and replacing them with life-enhancing beliefs is critical to our happiness and high performance in all areas of our lives. Thank you for this informative article. g

  6. These are all beliefs that hold us back but fortunately, there are ways to address them. I have only good things to say about cognitive-behavioral therapy. I have always taken an eclectic approach in my work in mental health and designed my approach to the individual. Letting go of limiting beliefs and replacing them with life-enhancing beliefs is critical to our happiness and high performance in all areas of our lives. Thank you for this informative article.