What are limiting beliefs and how do they hold us back?
Limiting beliefs can block us from reaching our highest potential. These beliefs may stunt our emotional growth, which can make us feel stifled in life, as if we aren’t going anywhere and nothing that we do will ever be good enough. At worst, limiting beliefs sever our connection with ourselves and others, potentially damaging our relationships and preventing us from fully experiencing what life has to offer.
Limiting beliefs can stem from feelings of fear or self-doubt, which can be learned behaviors that come from preconceived notions, social circles, or lived experiences. These thoughts keep us small and limit our growth potential by placing people and things in boxes.
Examples of limiting beliefs:
1. I won’t try because I know I can’t do it
2. I’ll never be good enough
3. Money is evil
4. There’s no way they like me
5. I am undesirable
Emotions and our Qi.
Our Qi is affected by our environment, our lifestyle, and even our thoughts and emotions. Negative thought patterns may scatter our Qi, impacting us emotionally and physically. TCM theory suggests that emotions are stored in the body, and while emotions are not inherently bad (in many ways they are essential for our survival), holding onto negative emotions for long periods of time can eventually impact the body. On a physical level, we know that stress doesn’t feel good. And when left unchecked, stress can eventually lead to dramatic lifestyle changes, emotional imbalances, and in some cases, even disease. TCM and the five-element theory also suggest that we can transform negative emotions into positive virtues through mindfulness practices like Qigong. This is a process of personal and spiritual transformation.
Through balance comes expansion.
The quality of one’s Qi affects one’s wellbeing, mood, and aging process. Qi is not lifeless or static. Qi is movement. A focus of Qigong is circulating life-force energy through the body to increase vitality, spiritual awareness, and transformation. In Taoism, there is a belief “through balance comes expansion.” From a Taoist perspective, balance and expansion are achieved through living in harmony with nature and all beings.
Instead of looking outward to find expansion, we can practice looking inward. What thoughts have you been telling yourself? How do these thoughts affect your energy and your mood throughout the day?
When our energy is balanced, we feel joyful, grounded, inspired, and have a passion for life. When our energy is out of balance, we may feel overly fatigued, impatient, uninspired, or emotionally unstable.
We have different physical, emotional, and energetic needs at different times in our lives. Sometimes we need rest to nourish our Qi, other times we may need physical movement, human connection, laughter, or a new outlet to nourish our Qi. Regardless, practicing patience and compassion goes a long way.
Reflection questions for limiting beliefs:
1. What sensations do I feel in my body? Have I felt this way before?
2. Is there a flip side or a positive outcome to this situation?
3. Where does this belief stem from? Have I heard or felt this before?
4. Is this belief serving me?
5. Do I really feel that way?
Qi wants to move and needs space to move.
Move with Love classes focus on intention, body awareness, and gentle movements to get the energy flowing and to help students feel more centered and better prepared to take on their day (or unwind from their daily stressors)! Move with Love Qigong routines utilize the five-element theory to encourage Qi flow through the body and to create an overall state of balance and wellbeing.
Practicing Qigong is an effective way to build awareness, release unnecessary stress, and quiet the influence of limiting beliefs. Are you ready to take the next steps in your personal transformation journey? Move with Love offers Qigong classes both in person and online. Happy awakening!
