I was asked recently what I believe is the most common thing that people need to overcome in order to achieve their goals and fulfil their potential. It’s not an easy question to answer, as there are many different factors that come in play.

However, from all the coaching I have done over the past 15 years, I’ve found that one of the biggest limitations that people have to overcome are the limitations that they in their own mind. These self-limiting beliefs mean that we can get in our own way and they can prevent us from being all that we can be.

It’s quite common for me to find that people have been conditioned or convinced themselves that they aren’t capable of achieving more than their current state. It could be that they are held back by a fear of failure or the unknown or a lack of self-belief. They may be shackled by past mistakes or poor experiences that get in the way of them fulfilling their potential. Previous setbacks and disappointments can make us more cautious and risk averse and provide obstacles.

When I think about how our mind can limit us it reminds me of how they train baby elephants to be circus animals. In their natural habitat elephants are very powerful and free to roam and explore where they wish to. You wouldn’t want to be charged by one! So how do they manage to tame these powerful creatures to reside in a circus and not try to escape?

When an elephant is born, it’s chained to a tree or post with a thick chain to stop it from escaping in the early weeks of it’s life. It tests the strength of the chain in an effort to break free and explore. Over time the elephant is conditioned to believe that it’s not able to break free from the chain that binds them and gives up trying to escape. The elephant resigns itself to a life of captivity.

As an adult elephant conditioned by past experience, it can be tied up with a small rope and won’t contemplate escaping as it carries with it a belief that it doesn’t possess the resources to break free. As a result it stays stuck and captive and doesn’t experience all that it could.

It’s great to witness when clients push themselves beyond their limits and start to achieve what they didn’t feel was possible. It provides additional confidence and motivation for them to grow and develop further.

Adopting a growth mind-set and being inspired to perform outside our limits creates a wonderful feeling of achievement and joy. Overcoming our self-imposed limits starts with us actually believing that it’s possible to do so.

Whether it’s running a marathon, studying for a qualification, going for promotion, writing a book, pursuing our dream job or starting our own business, we have to believe that with hard work, some support, encouragement and dedication we will achieve what we set out to do

This week, why not take some time out to pause and reflect on the following questions:

Are there any obstacles that you need to overcome?

What resources and people are available to help you to do so? What would you do if you knew that you would succeed?

This week’s quotation:

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” Marcus Aurelius.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk