Here I explain how limiting beliefs can have a negative impact on self-esteem. By encouraging Esme to consider where her beliefs have come from, I describe how these can be challenged and replaced with new, empowering beliefs.
Duration 1m 55s
ACTIVITY
A limiting belief is a state of mind, conviction or belief that you think to be true that limits you in some way. Limiting beliefs can have a number of negative effects such as preventing you from making positive choices or taking new opportunities. Ultimately, limiting beliefs can keep you stuck in a negative state of mind and hinder you from living the life you truly desire.
The limiting beliefs that we hold about ourselves as female performers can be very damaging. In the ‘Guest Interview’, Elizabeth, a former actress, talks about being so concerned with her body image that she didn’t perform as well as she could have in castings and as a result, both her self-esteem and confidence in her abilities began to diminish.
The good thing about limiting beliefs is that you have the power to change them if you look for evidence to support a positive belief rather than a limiting one.
Useful resources to support you:
https://tomillama.com/limiting-beliefs
Task 1: Start by thinking about any beliefs you have that are limiting you as a performer and write them down.
For example, one of Esme’s limiting beliefs is she needs to look a certain way when she performs.
Task 2: Write down where you think these beliefs came from.
By encouraging Esme to consider where her beliefs have come from, I describe how these can be challenged and replaced with new, empowering beliefs.
Task 3: Begin reframing your limiting beliefs
Reframing is a technique used to help create a different way of looking at a situation, person, or relationship by changing its meaning. It’s a strategy therapists often use to help clients look at situations from a slightly different perspective.
For example, rather than Esme thinking she needs to look a certain way when she performs, she could focus on the fact that she considers her music to be more important than her looks. Esme could focus on all the times she has performed well that were nothing to do with the way she looked and maybe even note some of these down. Doing this might help Esme to reframe her limiting belief to become a more positive one.
Task 4: Remember your strengths
Make a list of your strengths as a performer by focusing on times where you have really enjoyed performing and feel that everything went well.
When people praise you, don’t dismiss this but keep a note of what they have said and keep it somewhere you can access (e.g. as a note on your phone) to remind you of your strengths in moments where your self-limiting beliefs start to resurface.