Lies

I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to jump into another Mind Shift Monday! I want to start off this week by talking about some common lies people tell themselves.

You might relate to all of them or only some of them, but I’m sure you’re guilty of telling yourself at least one of them.

By pointing these out, my intention isn’t to scold you for thinking these untruths but to help you recognize them for what they are, just thoughts. Thoughts that don’t have to control you or shape who you’re going to be in the future—if you decide today to let them go.

These beliefs you’ve been carrying may not even be your own. They might be seeds planted by someone else without you even realizing it. They could stem from friends, colleagues, or, highly likely, from how you were raised.

So, let’s get into it. Here are 6 common lies that might be holding you back, even without you realizing it. As you read through them, remember that awareness is the first step to letting them go.

6 Lies You Tell Yourself

“Success means sacrificing my happiness.”

You might believe that chasing success requires giving up happiness as if the two can’t exist together. This lie makes you feel like fulfillment in one area comes at the cost of another. But genuine success doesn’t mean abandoning what makes you happy along the way. It means finding a balance that fulfills you.

Redefine success on your own terms, where happiness is a priority. Don’t tell yourself you’ll be happy when you achieve your goals, be happy and grateful now. Success is a state of mind, not a destination.

“If I haven’t made it by now, I never will.”

This lie convinces you that there’s an expiration date on success, which there certainly isn’t. Maybe you feel like you’ve failed so many times that trying again is useless. But here are three things to remember: 1) Success doesn’t follow a set timeline, 2) There’s no age limit for achievement, and 3) Failure is never final if you keep trying.

Ever heard of Colonel Harland Sanders? You probably know him best as the chicken-loving Colonel who founded KFC. He was rejected over 1000 times before a restaurant agreed to franchise his Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe at the age of 65. You could be on the brink of success, so don’t give up now. (Or ever!)

“I wasn’t born into opportunity.”

Feeling like you’ve started with less can make you believe that success is out of reach. But many successful people began with humble beginnings, proving that where you start doesn’t dictate where you can go. 

Your circumstances may shape you, but you don’t have to let them define you. Your power lies in what you do with what you have. Opportunity is often created, not given.

“I don’t have enough time.”I was listening to a great podcast the other day by Doug Dane. It was about how we tell ourselves we don’t have enough hours in the day to do the things we want. He phrased it beautifully when he said we all have the same 24 hours. The problem isn’t that you don’t have enough time; it’s that you’ve got a prioritizing problem.

It’s very true. If you dig deeper into where your time throughout the day is going, you may find more time starts freeing up. You do have the time,, if you decide to commit to what needs to be done to move closer to the life you want.

“I can’t move on from my past.”It’s easy to let past mistakes, failures, or traumas shape your present identity. Maybe you feel like the weight of the past will always hold you back, keeping you stuck in a story you never wanted to write. But just because something happened to you doesn’t mean it’s all you are. The past is just a chapter, not the entire book.

You have the power to start fresh at any time. Your past might have influenced who you are, but it doesn’t have to dictate who you’re becoming. I’ve helped thousands of my students let go of what no longer serves them so they can move on to the things that do.

If you need help moving on from past traumas, reach out at the link below for a free coaching call with one of my expert coaches. You can move on from the past, and you deserve everything the future has waiting for you.

I want to move on from my past

“I’m not interesting and have nothing to give.”

I assure you, you do. You may feel like your life isn’t extraordinary enough to make a difference, but that’s not true. Everyone has a story, life lessons, or perspectives that can teach and inspire others. You can have an impact on someone else’s life just by being authentically you.

So if you’ve been wanting to write that novel or start that YouTube channel, go ahead and do it if it’s what’s going to make you happy. Someone, somewhere is going to have a better life because you took the time to share your passions and wisdom with the world.

And as you start penning your next chapter full of brave new ventures, remember you no longer have to be a victim to these lies that may creep up from time to time. 

You may not even know you’re doing it. It can be a fleeting thought when you’re watching a celebrity house tour on TV and think, oh that’ll never happen for me. Or when you catch yourself daydreaming about a new career but dismiss it with, I’m too old to start over.

We’re taught to be realistic, to keep our heads out of the clouds and our feet on the ground. It’s better not to hope for something at all than be disappointed, right?

Well, I disagree. I think you’re capable and worthy of anything you 100% commit to!

Time to commit…

Action Step

This week I want you to remind yourself that the only power lies and limiting beliefs have over you is the power you give them. So stop giving them power. 

1. Identify the Lie: Take 5 minutes out of your day today to reflect on which of these lies has the strongest hold on you. Or maybe it’s another lie you’re already aware of. Write it down at the top of an index card. Writing it down will bring awareness to the lie so you can break free from it.
2. Replace it with a Truth: Draw a single line through the lie you wrote down. Under the lie write a positive truth that counters it. For example, if you wrote down “I don’t have enough time,” replace it with “I make time for what matters.” Keep your index card in your pocket or in your bag for the rest of the week. Read your new truth aloud every morning. Seeing the lie crossed out will help remind you that it has no power over you. Reading your positive truth will help shift your mindset.
3. Share It with a Friend: If you feel comfortable doing so, tell a close friend or accountability partner about the lie you’re letting go of and the new truth you’re embracing. Sharing it out loud makes it feel real, and your friend can help remind you of your truth throughout the week. Plus, it’s a great way to inspire others to challenge their own limiting beliefs.
   

And not for nothing, but I’m your friend! So feel free to hit reply and let me know what lie you’re letting go of. I’d love to know. 🙂 

Here’s to a new, powerful you this week. Don’t let anything, anyone, or any thoughts define you if they don’t align with the future you want for yourself.