There are some things we see in stage shows or videos and think, “That has to be fake… you can’t really do that.”
Then there are the days when we amaze ourselves. We discover what we are truly capable of, and realize that the only reason we couldn’t do it previously is because we had decided that we couldn’t.
Last week was one of those weeks for me.
Breaking Through Mental Barriers – Literally
I just finished two weeks in Phoenix getting my master practitioner’s certificate in neurolinguistic programming. It was a deep dive into how our brains interpret experiences, create beliefs, and manifest behavioral patterns.
And how the power of words – often the simplest, most innocuous, seemingly least important words – can unlock the unconscious mind and transform both our current conscious reality and our future freedom and power.
Need proof? Check out this picture:
That’s a 6’2”, 240-pound man suspended across two chairs by only his shoulders and feet, totally relaxed, with no strain or stress. And behind him is the person who put him into the hypnotic state to be able to do it. (That would be me.)
No swinging watches or swirling images… all just with words. Ten-minute conversations blew apart decades of limiting beliefs.
Want to break through your own limiting beliefs? Let’s talk.
From Chocolate Cravings to Confidence Anchors
It was inspiring to master tools to help people re-empower themselves by:
- Breaking food addictions (Chocolate? Nachos? Soda? Sour patch kids? Gone.)
- Anchoring feelings of confidence and self-respect
- Getting un-stuck and re-integrated when you feel like “part of you” wants to do something, but “part of you” can’t let go of something else
- Letting go of long-standing baggage in the form of anger, fear, hurt, sadness, shame, and anxiety
- Turning procrastination into motivation
- Extinguishing the fire under “road rage” and other unhealthy reflex reactions
- Discovering your highest priority values in different areas of life
- Recognizing where a past experience created a limiting belief you had codified into a universal “truth” for yourself… and realizing it’s not true at all…
And so much more.
Just as exciting? I got to be on the receiving end of all these techniques too. Because after all, what’s more powerful than being able to say:
“I know it works – because here’s what happened to me.”
Curious what’s possible for you? Click here to find out.
The Power of Personal Breakthroughs
To drive it all home, in the end, I literally and symbolically “broke through” my own fears and limiting beliefs — which I had written on a one-inch thick wood plank.
It was a powerful, visceral reminder that…
Influence doesn’t start with the words you speak. It starts with the beliefs you speak from.
The 12 Most Common Limiting Beliefs Leaders Tell Themselves
In 17 years of executive coaching, here are some of the most consistent (and damaging) limiting beliefs I’ve heard from leaders:
- “Conflict is uncomfortable for everyone so I try to avoid it whenever possible.”
- “I don’t ask for what I really want because what if they say no?”
- “I have to make all the big decisions by myself so nobody questions who is in charge.”
- “I can’t delegate it because nobody’s standards are as high as mine.” (Alt: “It’s easier if I just do it myself.”)
- “This is the way I’ve always done things, so anything else would be inauthentic.”
- “I’m afraid if I give them negative feedback it will hurt their confidence.”
- “I don’t want to be the center of attention, so I stay quiet in meetings.”
- “People always underestimate me; I always have to prove myself.”
- “I was taught humility as a personal/cultural value, so asserting myself would feel arrogant.”
- “I don’t want to speak up unless I’m 100% sure I have the right answer.”
- “I’m not being harsh, I’m just being clear. It’s not personal.”
- “I’m not good at public speaking (or networking) because I’m an introvert.”
If any of those hit a little too close to home, I have news for you:
That belief is holding you back — from being who you want to be, doing what you want to do, and getting the results you want to get.
If you’re ready to rewire those beliefs, let’s talk.
Your Voice Is More Powerful Than You Think
Looking for a kick-start to finding your authentic AND effective leadership voice?
Check out this great conversation I had with Tara Lehman on the Amplifying Leadership podcast.
In it, we unpack:
- The 3 C’s of executive presence: Command the room, Connect with the audience, Close the deal
- My 4-word secret to confident public speaking
- Icebreakers and strategies for building authentic networking connections
- How to align personal branding with professional goals
️ Listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Final Thoughts: What Lies Are You Still Believing?
The lies we tell ourselves may sound like protection, but more often they become invisible prisons.
What could happen if you stopped believing the lie?
What would your next level of freedom, leadership, and influence look like?
You don’t have to wait to find out.
Break the belief. Find the truth. Start here.
