examples of Limiting Beliefs

Examples of Self-Limiting Beliefs and How To Challenge Them

Self-defeating beliefs may create or exacerbate anxiety. Below is a list of self-defeating beliefs that lead to anxious thoughts and ways to overcome them.

Examples of Self-Limiting Beliefs With Solutions

Filtering:  Focusing on the negative to the exclusion of the positive.
Solution:  When you’re thinking/feeling bad, try to do the opposite.  

Black & White Thinking:  Things are good or bad – it’s all or nothing with no middle ground.
Solution: Look for the exception to your point of view – yes, but. . .

Overgeneralization:  Exaggerating or taking things to the extreme.
Solution: Avoid words such as: always, never, every, all, none, everybody, and nobody.  Question the extremes. Is there any time that is not true?  

Mind Reading:  Making assumptions about an outcome or someone’s motivation.
Solution: Can you really know what’s going to happen or why something happens? What another person’s intentions are? How can you know for sure? What are other possibilities? 

Catastrophizing:  AKA awfulizing – expecting and projecting the worst.
Solution: Remember that there is usually more than one possible outcome and the worst catastrophe usually does not happen.  

Personalization:  It’s all about me – my fault – I did it wrong – they hate me – I am the only one who can do this.
Solution: How do you know? Prove it, or consider other possibilities. Let others take ownership. 

Control Fallacies: Either you have no control or you can control everything.
Solution: Let go of what you can’t control and be realistic about what you really can control.  

Fallacy of Fairness: You think everything should be fair. 
Solution: Life is not fair. Accepting this will help you have more realistic expectations.   

Blaming: You don’t take responsibility for your choices and project fault onto others.
Solution: Take responsibility for your choices, including your feelings. Nobody else can make you feel or do anything. How you feel or react is up to you. Blame isn’t necessary/helpful – it is what it is.

Shoulds: Words like should, ought, and must foster impossible expectations and often result in disappointment, resentment, and failure.
Solution: Flexibility is the key here. Give yourself and others the benefit of the doubt.  

Emotional Reasoning:  A belief that your emotions are based in truth.
Solution: Challenge emotions with logic. Look for exceptions that are reasonable and possible