5 Weapons of Faith for Overcoming Limiting Beliefs Today

 

If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you.” ~ Louise Hay, “You Can Heal Your Life” 

 

What Are Limiting Beliefs?

Limiting beliefs are assumptions and convictions, often held without proof or concrete evidence, that constrain and prevent growth. Limiting beliefs can be formed at any point in our life, but usually, they take root in childhood. We experience pain and our young minds look to prevent it from happening again and protect us from experiencing that specific pain again.

This goes beyond the normal lessons we learn about safety, personal boundaries, and treating others well. There are certainly good and helpful lessons we learn from experiencing consequences in life. Limiting beliefs are wild and crazy ideas that our mind develops when in an effort to protect us, it overgeneralizes and overreaches.

Limiting Beliefs Examples

Limiting beliefs are thoughts on how:

• You always/never
• You have to do something, usually as a means of earning love or acceptance
• You absolutely under no circumstances could ever do or accomplish something due to fear, or perceived inability, or resulting judgment from others
• It will always/never be

Sometimes they extend outside the self to assumptions about others:

• That’s just the way the world works.
• Other people will think I’m (FILL IN THE BLANK with something limiting and enslaving).

Most often, we lean on and in turn, actually support our own limiting beliefs as a method of protection from additional negativity and pain. We should certainly operate within healthy margins and set boundaries, but when these limitations prevent change and evolution, it is time to set ourselves free!

Here’s an example experienced by one of my Flower Essence clients who wanted help staying present and connecting with her family, in particular her children. She admitted she didn’t really want to be present but knew she should be giving of herself and providing more nurturing to them. Going deeper, we determined that in past relationships she had withdrawn as a way to protect herself when things got tough.

Over time, painful experiences reinforced this protective mechanism of retreating at the slightest hint of difficulty. Her mind was always searching for the dangerous parts, rather than the healing quotients of being present with those she cared about.

The limiting belief that was holding her back from enjoying life with her kids was,

“It is unsafe to release this sensitivity because I’ll get hurt if I don’t stay on guard.”

Saying it out loud was helpful on its own. Because limiting beliefs really are wild and crazy and overgeneralizing and far overreaching attempts to protect us. It was certainly safe and a much more protective stance for her and her children to connect on a daily basis. Building these bonds would set healthy boundaries and expectations in other relationships.

 

This post includes Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in my Disclosures page.

5 Ways Holistic faith Confronts Limiting Beliefs

The idea of holistic spirituality or a holistic faith lifestyle as we call it here realizes that God is deeply connected to every part of our mind, body, and spirit as well as the world in which we live. Holistic faith welcomes God’s wisdom, love, and peace in every section of our being and our life, even those not typically viewed as spiritual.

Aligning your thoughts with what God says about you limits the power of anything standing in opposition. Here are five ways that holistic spirituality brings light to limiting beliefs, allows you to take your thoughts captive, and change your life!

1. You trust that God’s abundance pours out over everything. 

Our mantra at Holistic Faith Lifestyle is “seeking sacred in the everyday”.  A holistic faith lays the groundwork for meeting with God in the day-to-day. I often feel surprised by the circumstances where I notice or commune with God. But of course, God is there! It is healing to know that God’s love is not limited by what’s on our to-do list for the day. 

Recognizing the abundance of God changes any feelings of being in a rut to that of contemplating “What can be learned?” or “How can I connect with the Creator and be blessed beyond measure?”.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ~ JOHN 10:10

Being aware of God’s abundance shakes off any perceived limits to our significance or the impact of our love and our work.  It also bosses back any beliefs about what we lack and how things will never change.   

 

2. You recognize God is everywhere. 

Holistic spirituality doesn’t stop at recognizing the abundance of God, it also knows God is present wherever we go. 

There is nowhere we are hidden. Even if we try, God is in our hiding place! David wrote it out purely and poetically in the first part of Psalm 139.  

Take heart! Knowing God never leaves you nor forsakes you crushes the belief that you’re unsupported or alone. 

 

3. It seems God is in all things! 

This isn’t to say holistic spirituality leads you to pantheism which is a belief that all things are God and that there is no difference in the Creator and what has been created. Instead, it opens the heart to recognize that because all things were created by God, there is proof of God pulsing through them and that all things reflect a facet of God’s character. 

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” ~ROMANS 11:36

Seeing God’s beauty and fullness all around you leads to gratitude and makes you watchful for blessings. It’s a game-changing bit of leverage when it comes to renewing your mind and taking every thought captive!

 

4.  It flows into awareness of how close God is at all times. 

Sometimes we can know in our mind that God is big out there in the universe, energetically in every living being, but forget that God is also right here. If there’s been a disconnect between the two concepts, find time to meditate or set an intention to be mindful of God’s presence in your everyday routines.

Knowing you have constant, immediate access to God at all times confronts any thoughts of being unworthy of love or going unnoticed.  

 

5.  There is no questioning that God lives within you.  

You know that Christ lives within you and this is where you find your identity. The old has become new (Galatians 2:20) and your past has no grip on you. While of course, we have natural consequences to our actions and our words, God enables supernatural healing. This holistic healing means forgiveness of self and others, getting to the root issue, and disrupting harmful patterns.  

Limiting beliefs have no place in a Jesus Follower’s heart! We are called to love God and love others by being salt and light to our world. Acknowledging God’s residence in you builds positive beliefs about the dignity of all people and our connectivity to one another as image-bearers. 

If you’re gripped by your past or struggle with beliefs on how you’ll never be able to do enough to make a difference or how it’s you against the world, seeing the presence of God living in you brings alignment with righteous truth. 

 

How to Get Rid of Limiting Beliefs

Now that you’re feeling a bit more familiar with the concept of limiting beliefs and how they are formed, as well as how holistic faith aids you in confronting these false truths, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of limiting beliefs. Use these practical tools to assist you in unraveling and thoughts that bind you.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs with Guided Christian Meditation

Guided Christian meditation can help with overcoming limiting beliefs because it allows you to neutrally and without judgment, simply notice your thoughts. Often as Christians, we receive messaging that feeling certain ways is “unChristian”. In actuality, it just makes you human.

Through meditation, we give ourselves the gift of being present with our thoughts so that we might begin to notice them before reacting to them. This taking a beat before we judge ourselves is beautifully healing. Instead of judging ourselves for worrying or having doubts and stopping there, we can grow into the habit of noticing and then being honest with God about what we find. Yes, repent if necessary, but don’t get stuck there beating yourself up.

We’ve already determined that limiting beliefs are an overprotective mechanism, so we can expect to uncover some shocking and likely ridiculous things. Once you lock this idea in, you are free to explore without judgment of yourself. Often, just sitting still and not attempting to control the thoughts allows limiting beliefs to surface.

Here is one of my very first guided Christian meditation videos to get you started! Since then, I’ve begun sending out meditations that are a bit more polished. They go out on a weekly basis and include a link to my own personal Meditation Playlist for that week.

You can get on that list here!

I mention the fact that I now send out more polished productions as an example of rewiring the brain. The content of this meditation stands true in God’s word and since then, I’ve grown in my technical skills. Both are true. I was limited before and I have also grown.

Just a little honesty about my own journey of not letting perfectionism limit the joy I find in sharing how deeply God moves when we sit still and listen!

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs by Finding Your Identity in Christ

Understanding what liming beliefs are and how holistic faith allows you to break free from their stronghold in your life counts as a huge spiritual growth spurt. Take a little time to recognize this growth and acknowledge that you are ready and willing to change your thought patterns.

You were made for love and that which you were made for is limitless. #takeeverythoughtcaptive #faithblogger #spiritualgrowthspurt #holisticfaith Click To Tweet

Finding your identity in Christ and letting that awareness guide you when your thoughts push back is less arduous than you may think or have been taught to believe.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs by Taking Your Thoughts Captive

Though limiting beliefs become ingrained and often dictate our behavior and decisions without us noticing, the good news is that you’re in control of your thoughts! Even old patterns can be confronted with truth and realigned with gratitude and positivity.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

~ 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5-6

When you take your thoughts captive and destroy any thought pattern that sets itself up against God, you not only guard yourself against sin and poor decisions. You are also safeguarding against limiting yourself based on untrue perceptions, creating idols of dependency, and deteriorating your own overall health.

When you take every thought captive, you are empowered to live in gratitude, stay positive, and endure the race set before you!

Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through your thinking. When we hope, it is an activity of the mind that changes the structure of our brain in a positive and normal direction.”
~ Caroline Leaf, Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs Worksheet

I created this limiting beliefs worksheet, entitled “Heal Your Thoughts”. It is a helpful tool for inviting Wisdom in to Unearth or reveal patterns that are holding you back, Uproot them with the peace and power of a renewed mind, and Replant replacement thoughts that are aligned with what God says about you and the plan for your life!

Using the prompts in this worksheet and the included scriptures and affirmations provide a solid foundation for confronting limiting beliefs and taking every thought captive!

 

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs is Possible!

Remember, our fear and worry diminishes when we stay aware of God’s might and power in our life. Though it will take work, you are in control of your thoughts and beliefs. God loves you and desires every good thing for you. Much of what we generate in our lives begins in our thoughts and beliefs about God, our world, and ourselves.

As you go forward in your day, contemplate God’s simultaneous vastness and proximity. Let this knowledge resonate and defeat any beliefs that prevent you from seeing Christ’s power in you.

And be blessed!

Refuse to propagate limiting beliefs. Knowing you are deeply loved by your Creator, move forward in watchful prayer. Treat it like a treasure hunt! Each limiting belief is an opportunity to see God's power made perfect in you.… Click To Tweet

Additional Resources for Confronting Your Limiting Beliefs