Limiting Beliefs - Journal Prompts
Limiting Beliefs - Journal Prompts
Don't get in your own way when planning your future.
From birth, we’re constantly fed other people’s perspectives. Sometimes they’re how you handle problems, if you’re lucky you developed a growth mindset along the way. Unfortunately, there is also the possibility that you came up with an oppositional mindset, or simply have incorrect generalizations about how the world works.
Stereotypes and generalizations make it easy to make snap decisions as we go through life, they can make you a quick thinker, they can also make you mentally lazy.
Take some time this weekend to explore what crutches you’ve picked up along the way that now restrict your growth in life.
I know that I have a hard time writing some of these things down, so consider deleting your entry or throwing it away if it will help you be honest. The goal is self awareness of these mental constructs so you can learn from them.
Identify at least three (3) stereotypes or generalizations you have about people, either individuals or some ‘cohort.’
Consider the generalizations you have about people, either intentionally or unintentionally, maybe you’re unintentionally racist or sexist, maybe. Maybe you’re ableist (discriminating against those with disabilities.) Recognize that it might not be that you’re mean, just that you treat them differently than other people.
Consider any knee-jerk responses or strong opinions you have about certain situations, people or anything that you involuntarily react to, write about those reactions and explore them.
If I say “Donald Trump” or “Vladimir Putin” you likely have an immediate response. Consider something closer to home that gets a negative response, maybe when someone says “I’m a writer” or “I earn my money online.” If you react negatively to something, look for your why, see if you can learn something. Similarly, if you have a favorable bias, allowing someone to behave ‘conventionally’ bad without repercussion.
Think about your “I can’t” or “I wouldn’t” list, things that you think are unattainable for you. Write down a list of as many as you can think of in 5 minutes, then explore them.
Try re-writing an “I can’t” by adding “yet” to the end. Say it out loud and see if you feel anything. Re-write any “I wouldn’t” statements with an “unless” and again see how that changes your feelings. Consider your statements against other people, can they do it? Why can they and not you? Is there a condition that, if changed, would allow you to do it? How?
Take 15 minutes each on these, really explore them and get in touch with yourself and appreciate these things as you explore them.