Several months ago I saw a thought provoking film that I really enjoyed called Le Otto Montange (The Eight Mountains). The film portrays the lives of two young Italian boys who spend their childhood years roaming the picturesque Alpine mountain ranges. As they grow older their paths diverge, and life leads them in different courses between family dynamics and the physical and mental borders involved. It exemplified on many different occasions the silent human condition in which we tend to place self-imposed limits upon ourselves.
After seeing this movie, my mind was reeling for days about the (sometimes tragedy) of the self-imposed limits we tend to unknowingly define our lives by. Reflecting on this, I realized how myself and others tend to speak in a language of captivity within these invisible boundaries.
Of course there are physical boundaries, which are present from the moment we’re born. The physical or geographic boundaries that inevitably shape our lives, including our home, our town, our country. Sometimes these external boundaries and the other people within them can shape the mental constructs within our minds – what we believe to be true/ believe to be possible.
Mental boundaries are the thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions that shape our understanding of the world. These invisible boundary lines often define what we believe is possible…or impossible. These are the limiting beliefs that keep us stuck thinking, “There’s no way I could do xyz,” or “I’m not smart enough to do xyz”, these mental boundaries limit our potential and have the potential to keep us confined within a self-imposed mental prison.
It is intriguing to consider that often times these boundaries are created unconsciously without our awareness. Our upbringing, societal influence, and past life experiences influence and contribute to the formation of these limits which can be carried with us for a lifetime.
By recognizing, questioning, and acknowledging these self-imposed limiting beliefs, we can begin the process of dismantling and breaking free from the constraints of them. It begins with self-awareness of our own limiting beliefs we’ve created. Once we open the door to this level of introspection, we can question the validity of these self-imposed limits, challenge our preconceived notions, and start to develop a deeper understanding and envision our potential.
For myself, I found once I began my *real* healing journey >> rebuilding my mindset after trauma, I had to embrace the discomfort of it all. One thing that I kept running into was frustration with myself. Once I had the self-awareness to identify certain patterns in my thought processes, I would beat myself up every time they popped up. Now I consider this to be a victory- because when I recognize something, I’m no longer being blind to it…and that is where positive change and evolution can happen.
Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher made the profound statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we critically reflect on our actions, values, and beliefs, we are better suited to understand ourselves and strive for a more virtuous and ethical life. Self-examination is not self-absorbed; it is part of the pursuit of wisdom.
Of more weight than even Socrates, are many quotes from the Bible having to do with introspection as part of one’s spiritual growth:
2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Lamentations 3:40: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”
Psalm 26:2: “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”
Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
While this last verse is not explicitly about self examination, it emphasizes the importance of guarding your heart and your mind… When you guard what goes into your heart and mind, there is better potential for what flows out.
I encourage you to consider and write about where your self imposed borders/boundaries/limits are. What could have instigated them? What has shaped your mind into thinking the way it does? Is it true? … Or has it been hammered in so many times that it’s stuck?
If the nail has been hammered in cockeyed, grab a pry bar, take it out, and hammer it in the right way. In the same way you would correct the positioning of a nail for stability and strength, sometimes the mind needs correction on detrimental thoughts or behaviors that are causing stress or harm to one’s mental health.
I extend a warm invitation to connect with me for private coaching, where together, we’ll explore and break free from the self-imposed limits that might be hindering your journey to a more fulfilling life. Let’s unlock your full potential and pave the way for a more joyful future. Contact me to take the first step towards the positive change you deserve.