If you find yourself on the other side of big plans or dreams but not doing what you say you want to do, you may be wondering what is keeping you stuck. More than likely, it's your limiting beliefs—thoughts that play like background music in our minds, informing us about how we make decisions, how we navigate relationships, and how we appear in the world. If you're on the cusp of something new – maybe you're considering a career change or want to start a business but can't muster the courage, it could be one of these limiting beliefs holding you back.
“I can only be successful in one area…” When a high-achieving woman wants to change course, she's often haunted by the nagging feeling that if she's already been hugely successful, she's not likely to succeed in any other arena. But that couldn't be further from the truth. There is no finite amount of success – being successful in one area does not guarantee that you will succeed if you do something else, but it also does not guarantee that you will fail because somehow the success you you have earned your life “used up”.
“If I have tried and failed once before, I will most likely fail again…”
On the other side of that thinking is the woman who in the past has had the opportunity to get herself out there – maybe she posted her resume to a career change board and got no responses. Or maybe she presented her business idea to investors and no one is interested. Whether this happened ten days ago or ten years ago, the sense of past failure can haunt you when it's time to try something new. But in the same way that you don't have to accept success in just one area, one failure (or ten) doesn't automatically mean your next idea, venture, or career path won't work.
“My current circle must understand and support my plans…”
When you're doing great things, it's natural to seek the support of others. Most of us go to the first and most obvious place – our friends and family – for support. But what if our current friends, colleagues and family have no experience with what we want to do? Or, what if they are much more conservative than us and want us to just stick to what we know? One of the most important factors in your momentum and your ability to stick with something new is the support you get. What messages do you hear every day? Are they positive or filled with doubt? These will likely be the voices that fill your head when you question a big decision. You may think you need to share your great things with the people in your personal life, but you don't always have to, especially if they don't have the experience or awareness to be supportive. It's fine to find a support network elsewhere - you can find a Facebook group, a meetup group, or try to meet new people in your community. Or you can always just keep your plans to yourself until they are in a less vulnerable place.
