Negative thoughts are a huge block on your efforts to live, learn and grow. The beliefs that you have about yourself and what you can achieve are actually the strongest foundation of your entire life.

How do you recognize self-sabotaging thoughts?

Some common self-limiting thoughts are:

  • “I’ll never be able to save any money for retirement.”

  • “I'm sure Pat will get that promotion over me.”

  • “I wish I could take a vacation to Europe, but I know I could never afford it.”

  • “How will I ever live the life I want earning what I earn now?”

If you identified some of your limiting thoughts while reading the above examples, take steps to break your ties to those thinking patterns.

Focus on these strategies to change a negative mindset:

Refrain from labeling yourself. You may be surprised by how much your mindset can affect the way you think about yourself and the world. If you see yourself as “poor” financially, then you might unconsciously strive to match that label.

Take baby steps. When you work towards your goals, you'll build the momentum to keep on going. Rather than think that what you want is impossible, create a plan of progressively achievable steps to make it happen.

  • For example, perhaps you’d like a European vacation. Instead of believing you’ll never get there, start by putting $20 away in your savings account each week and keep doing that until you have the amount needed for the trip.

Learn to be your own best friend. Love yourself enough to be your own best friend. So when times get tough, try giving yourself a little bit of leeway with this thought: "I can do this." Continue to remind yourself about the things you've accomplished and how you're going to continue doing well.

Believe in yourself. Instead of insisting you’ll “never” do something, say that you can, and then do it. If you turn those negatives into positives, it boosts your self-esteem. Believe that the outcome is possible and don't give up, even if it feels difficult or challenging.

Assess the truth. Think about what you’re thinking. Is it really true? For example, is it an absolute reality that you won’t ever have enough money for retirement? It doesn't have to be true, unless you strive for that.

  • Change your mindset by beginning your retirement fund today. At the end of the day, put all your change into a jar. See how simple it is to start saving?

  • Question your self-limiting thoughts. When you realize they’re unrealistic, untrue, and within your power to change, you’ll be able to break away.

Recognize how powerful your negative thoughts are. Creating the life you want is within your reach! You make yourself who you are by what you spend time thinking about, so why not use that power for good?

Learn from prior errors. Instead of using your past against you, think about the knowledge you’ve gained from each experience. Maybe an important relationship dissolved a few years ago. The loss of that relationship doesn’t mean you’ll never find another partner again.

  • Instead of letting your thoughts restrict you, think about what you did wrong in previous relationships. Reflect on the mistakes, lessons, and changes that can help you recreate something better.

When you implement the above strategies in your life, You’ll be AMAZED at the things you can accomplish. Your self-limiting beliefs will go away and you can embrace a good and happy life that’s all yours.