Do any of these statements sound familiar? I’ll never get a job. There are too many people out there looking. There are no jobs. I don’t know the right people.

The above statements are limiting beliefs. They are sabotaging many job searchers. Those statements are false but seem true to the owner. Statements like this prevent the owner from going forward.

They are sabotaging the job search.

How did the owner come to these limiting beliefs? They came from where all limiting beliefs come from family, friends, media, teachers, lack of knowledge, and inaccurate information.

Limiting beliefs sabotage your efforts. If you think you can’t do something, you won’t try. Any mistake along the way and you point to the fact that you knew you could not do it. This prevents you from moving forward. You can also project your limiting beliefs on to other people. You think they see you in the same way you see yourself. When in actuality, they don’t – they think you are capable and a likeable person.

Limiting beliefs hold you back from living the life you were meant to live. You recognize them so you can start changing your thoughts and start living your life.

Some of your limiting beliefs will be hard to find because they have been with you since you were young. Some of your negative beliefs are from your parents and grandparents. Your family obtained these from their country of origin, popular thoughts of their day, or their experiences. These thoughts passed from one generation to another may not be applicable to your life today. However, these outdated, extinct beliefs are holding you back.

I give you three ways to find your limiting beliefs. First, think about what you have heard your parents and grandparents have said about various issues. Are any of these thoughts still relevant today? Do you continue to think this way? Is it preventing you from doing something? Another variation of this is what your parents or grandparents said to you when you were experiencing difficulties. Were they supportive of your decisions? Did they discourage you from going forward? Did they cite their own inabilities?

Second, think of something you want to do, or something you always wanted to do. What does the thought say to you? Do you feel uncomfortable thinking about having done this? Does it feel that is out of your reach?

Third, think about the following statements, do you think like this? Who you are and what you can do are set in stone; they cannot be changed. It’s what it is so there is no point in even thinking about other views. There’s only one of doing things.

These statements are limiting beliefs. These statements are some of the many popular limiting beliefs. Below are examples of how they are stated:

I can’t dance. I can’t do marketing. I have to do all the cooking, cleaning, and preparing for the holiday. No one will hire mebecause I am too old. I don’t deserve it.

Take some time and think about what you think about yourself and your situation. Don’t worry if takes some doing to get your thoughts out. Some of them are buried under harmless views. Take notice of your thoughts for several days. Think about why they are negative. Write down everything you can about what you are thinking and feeling about your beliefs

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Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search?