Letting Go of Ego
Dear Claudia,
I’m having trouble “awakening” to the present moment with my meditation and letting go of ego. I am plagued by anxiety and can’t just let go of it, even though I know that it is useless and unnecessary. Do you know why I can’t let go of this anxiety, or what I can do to be more at peace?
Michaela
Dear Michaela,
Many people forget that Eckhart Tolle awakened to his enlightened state the moment he realized he didn’t want to live. He was about to kill himself when he experienced his awakening, and the rest is history.
What this means is that for him to achieve presence with what he was feeling, he had to know what that was.
Often, there are unspoken feelings, sensations, and dynamics that we have not put our finger on. When you don’t yet know exactly what it is you’re feeling, you can’t always achieve presence with it.
Now, anxiety, psychologically speaking, is what’s known as a “secondary emotion.” That means we feel it in response to other, more primary emotions. Maybe sexual. Maybe aggressive. We don’t always know what that primary emotion is. That’s why we have anxiety.
I can’t tell you how many times I have helped people to discover their primary thoughts and feelings, only to witness their anxiety vanish.
And that’s when you can achieve presence with what you feel: when you know it.
The way to discover the thoughts and emotions that you are not knowing and experiencing in your conscious awareness is to allow your mind to wander, on a yoga mat, therapist’s office, or on a written page. Eventually ‒ and especially if you can be helped to accept your emotions ‒ you will land on thoughts and feelings that will feel like “aha” moments, things you did not realize or that may even feel like complete revelations. And when that happens, you will feel at peace.
You can’t attain sanity by just trying harder, exercising a positive outlook, letting go, forgiving or meditating. What you need for sanity, when reason fails, are emotional experiences. Not ideas. Experiences.
– Claudia Luiz, PsychD in Where’s My Sanity? Stories That Help
We are here to evolve, and enlightenment is not something you can turn on like a switch in your brain. It is something that requires continued meditation, continued deep knowledge of your “pain body” and continued practice in observing the ego. Don’t get discouraged – I admire you greatly for seeking answers to reconciling what is happening within you to what you recognize outside of yourself.
About the Author
10 Examples of Limiting Beliefs and How to Overcome Them
Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts that prevent us from reaching our goals and living the life we desire. In this article, we explore how to identify and overcome these beliefs to unlock our true potential and manifest our desires.
Table of Contents
- What Are Limiting Beliefs?
- 10 Common Examples of Limiting Beliefs
- How Limiting Beliefs Affect Manifestation
- What Is the Origin of Limiting Beliefs or Thoughts?
- How to Overcome Limiting Ideas
- The Importance of Empowering Beliefs in Manifestation
- 10 Examples of Empowering Beliefs
What Are Limiting Beliefs?
Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts and convictions that act as barriers in our personal growth. These beliefs form throughout our lives, often stemming from past experiences, family and social influences, leading us to doubt our abilities. As a result, we set artificial limits on what we believe is possible, preventing us from reaching our true potential.
A limiting belief can be as simple as thinking “I’m not good enough,” or as complex as a pattern of behavior that keeps us stuck in an undesirable situation. By becoming aware of these beliefs, we can begin to question and challenge them, opening the door to new possibilities and opportunities.
Identifying our limiting beliefs is the first step towards overcoming them. This involves deep reflection to understand how these negative thoughts affect us and where they originated in our lives. By dismantling these beliefs, we can replace them with more positive and empowering thoughts that allow us to move forward towards our goals with confidence and determination.
10 Common Examples of Limiting Beliefs
Identifying our limiting beliefs is the first step towards overcoming them and unlocking our potential. Here are ten common examples of these beliefs:
- I’m not good enough: “I’ll never be as good as others.”
- I’m too old or too young: “I’m too young to be a manager.”
- I don’t have enough money: “I’ll never be able to afford that.”
- I don’t have enough time: “I don’t have time to pursue my dreams.”
- I’m not smart: “I can’t understand this, it’s too hard for me.”
- Success is for others, not for me: “They have what it takes, I don’t.”
- I must think of others first, even if it hurts me: “I must always put others’ needs before mine.”
- I’m not creative: “I never have original ideas.”
- It’s too difficult: “I can’t do it, it’s too complicated.”
- I don’t deserve to be happy: “I don’t deserve to enjoy life.”
How Limiting Beliefs Affect Manifestation
Limiting beliefs act as blocks in the manifestation process, preventing our intentions and desires from materializing. When we hold onto negative thoughts or doubt our abilities, we emit a low vibration that attracts experiences and situations aligned with these limiting beliefs. This creates a cycle in which our expectations are continuously confirmed, reinforcing our limitations.
Changing our limiting beliefs requires a conscious and practical approach. It is essential to recognize that these negative thoughts do not reflect reality, but rather a perception conditioned by past experiences. Through techniques such as meditation, the use of positive affirmations, and the practice of visualization, we can transform these mental patterns and align ourselves with our true capabilities. By modifying our beliefs, we not only improve our self-image but also create a mental environment conducive to manifesting our desires and goals.
What Is the Origin of Limiting Beliefs or Thoughts?
Limiting beliefs originate primarily in our childhood, when we are more susceptible to external influences. The messages and experiences we receive from our parents, teachers, and social environment begin to shape our perception of ourselves and the world. Phrases like “you’re not good enough” or “that’s too hard for you” can become deeply ingrained, forming the foundation of our limiting ideas.
In addition to external influences, our personal experiences also play an important role in the development of limiting beliefs. Failures, rejections, and traumatic situations can leave a lasting impression on our minds, leading us to generalize those negative experiences and believe that we will always fail or be rejected. This negative thought pattern is reinforced every time we avoid similar situations to protect ourselves from pain.
Limiting beliefs can also be the result of the culture and society in which we live. Social norms, expectations, and stereotypes can impose restrictions on what we consider possible or acceptable. For example, cultural beliefs about gender, age, or economic status can limit our aspirations and self-image, affecting our ability to manifest the life we truly desire.
Finally, limiting beliefs can originate in our own internal dialogue. Repetitive and negative thoughts can become a mental habit, continuously reinforcing our limiting perceptions. This critical internal dialogue can be especially insidious, as it operates at a subconscious level, influencing our decisions and behaviors without us even realizing it.
How to Overcome Limiting Ideas
Overcoming limiting ideas requires a conscious process of introspection and mental reprogramming. First, it is important to identify and observe these negative beliefs, recognizing their origin and how they affect our lives. Then, through techniques such as meditation, positive affirmations, and visualization, we can reprogram our subconscious and replace limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs that strengthen us and propel us towards our goals.
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Detection and Observation of the Belief
The first step to overcoming a limiting belief is to detect it and observe it closely. Reflect on your daily thoughts and emotions, and ask yourself what beliefs might be blocking your progress. Write these beliefs down and examine their origin, recognizing when and how they arose and how they have influenced your decisions and behaviors.
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Reprogram the Subconscious
Reprogramming the subconscious involves replacing limiting beliefs with positive and empowering thoughts. Use positive affirmations and repeat them daily to modify your internal dialogue. Visualization is another effective technique: imagine in detail what your life would look like after overcoming these beliefs, creating new neural connections that reinforce these empowering thoughts.
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Change the Limiting Belief for an Empowering One
To change a limiting belief for an empowering one, first identify a positive belief you wish to adopt. Write affirmations that reflect this new belief and repeat them regularly. Each time you detect a limiting thought, consciously replace it with the positive affirmation. This process requires consistency and daily practice so that the new belief takes root.
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Consolidation of the New Belief
Consolidating a new belief requires practice and consistency. Integrate your new beliefs into your daily routine through concrete actions that reinforce them. Keep a journal of your progress, record your successes, and reflect on how these new beliefs are transforming your life. Over time, these beliefs will become an integral part of your thinking and daily behavior.
The Importance of Empowering Beliefs in Manifestation
Empowering beliefs are essential for manifestation because they directly influence our ability to attract and achieve our desires. These beliefs propel us forward, creating a positive and receptive mental state. By maintaining empowering beliefs, we align our vibration with our goals, making it easier for our intentions to become reality.
In addition, empowering beliefs allow us to overcome internal obstacles and maintain a mindset of abundance and possibility. They reinforce our self-image and positive expectations, creating a mental and emotional environment that supports and motivates us. By adopting these beliefs, we visualize our goals more clearly and act with confidence and determination, transforming our reality in meaningful ways.
10 Examples of Empowering Beliefs
Adopting empowering beliefs is essential to manifesting our desires and achieving our goals. Here are ten examples of these beliefs that can transform your life:
- I am enough: “I have everything I need to succeed.”
- Age does not define my ability: “Every stage of my life brings new opportunities.”
- Abundance is within my reach: “Money flows to me with ease.”
- I have time for everything that matters: “I can manage my time to fulfill my dreams.”
- I am smart and capable: “I can learn and master any skill.”
- Success is for everyone: “I have what it takes to succeed.”
- Taking care of myself is a priority: “My needs are as important as anyone else’s.”
- I am creative: “I have original and valuable ideas.”
- Challenges are opportunities: “I can overcome any obstacle.”
- I deserve to be happy: “I deserve to fully enjoy life.”
