Getting In Touch With Your Limiting Beliefs
A limiting belief is a state of mind or belief about yourself that restricts you in some manner.
I had a limiting belief that I was not smart enough to go to medical school, so I became a nurse. Many nurses experienced these limiting beliefs without realizing it. Limiting beliefs are learned from our parents, media, our environment even though we may not recognize it. How so? How can we confront and overcome these obstacles as nurses?
You need to identify the limiting belief which is a deeply ingrained idea about us that holds us back. They might sound like, “I’m not smart enough to become a nurse leader … I’ll never be good at public speaking so I can’t teach or present … I’ve always worked bedside … I can’t trust transition into a new role.”
The first step is to recognize these thoughts when they appear. Pay attention to your inner dialogue, especially when facing challenges. In nursing, we are programmed to believe in lack and limitation such as we don’t have enough equipment, supplies, support or time to adequately take care of our patients.
We become so entrenched in this belief of lack that we don’t realize that the rest of the world is, in reality, very abundant. In fact, if you look at many hospitals, they seem to all have construction underway. These hospitals are nonprofit and must reinvest the profits back into the hospital system. Rather than investing in attracting nurses to maintain and provide quality patient care, they would rather turn these facilities into something like hotels with concierge service. When people are sick they don’t care about the color of the room’s walls; they just want to get the care they need.
Ask yourself if these beliefs are true. Once you identify your limiting belief, the next step is to question their validity. Are these thoughts rooted in fact? Are they assumptions that you’ve made over time? For example, “I’ve never led before” can turn into, “I’ve led patient care teams in difficult situations” or “I don’t have enough experience” can be reframed as “I have years of experience in patient care and my skills are transferable to other roles.” The process of reframing helps us realize that many limiting beliefs are based in fear or lack of self-confidence and are not grounded in reality.
Next you need to develop a growth mindset which is the belief that we can learn new skills or improve the ones we already have. If you say to yourself, “I’m not good at technology” you can shift that to, “I can learn more about technology to improve my practice.”
Adopting a growth mindset helps you turn limiting beliefs into goals for improvement. The shift empowers you to take control of your professional development and push beyond any self-imposed limits.
Seek support and mentorship. No one breaks through limiting beliefs alone. Sometimes we need the help of others because we can’t always see our own limiting beliefs. They can be hidden deep in our subconscious.
Mentorship can provide a mirror, reflecting on strengths that you may not see in yourself. A supportive mentor can help you work through doubt and affirm your abilities, especially when you’re on the verge of a breakthrough.
Set small achievable goals. Overcoming limiting beliefs doesn’t happen overnight. Start by setting small, achievable goals that put you just outside your comfort zone. Growth only occurs outside your comfort zone. If you’ve always believed you can’t
lead a team, try stepping up during your shift and offering to lead in small ways. Gradually build up your confidence by taking on more responsibility or exploring new roles.
Practice self-compassion. Nursing is a demanding profession, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves when we don’t immediately succeed, or we feel overwhelmed by self-doubt. One of the best ways to get in touch with limiting beliefs and move beyond them is through self-compassion. Instead of beating yourself up for perceived shortcomings, treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer to a colleague or patient. Nurses are hardest on themselves.
Self-compassion creates space for growth and helps you navigate the emotional difficulties of challenging your limiting beliefs.
Visualized success! Visualization is a powerful tool. Take time to imagine yourself breaking free from your limiting beliefs and achieving something that you once thought was out of your reach. Whether it’s landing a leadership position, transitioning to a new specialty, or pursuing higher education, seeing yourself succeed can be a motivating force.
Give yourself permission to dream big and remind yourself that you are capable of growth, change and achievement. If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.
Lastly, limiting beliefs are not unique to nurses, but they can be particularly challenging in a profession as demanding as ours. By getting in touch with these beliefs and actively working to challenge them, we can unlock our full potential.
Remember, you are more than capable–sometimes the biggest hurdle is simply a matter of believing. Whether you’re at the bedside, in research or exploring legal nurse
consulting, overcoming limiting beliefs opens new pathways for growth and fulfillment. Step-by-step with reflection, support, and a belief in your capacity for change, you can breakthrough these barriers and thrive.
