( Workin ’ It )
ARE YOU LIMITING
YOUR OWN POSSIBILITY ?
Smriti Goswami explains .
It is not easy to define possibility . In fact , the only way to understand what is truly possible in your life , is to push yourself to the edges of your capabilities ; to extend yourself beyond the limits of what you think you can achieve . Possibility is revealed when we believe we are greater than , and take bold steps to test that hypothesis .
Sadly , many of us never even venture to the beginning of these personal frontiers . For a start , what we believe to be true about ourselves is often a small and distorted reflection of the truth . Our silent thoughts and inner dialogue are often so warped , so limiting , that we are unable to see even the beginning of what is possible for ourselves .
When we believe our own , misguided thoughts , we unconsciously impose a field of impossibility around ourselves . For me , this self-defined impossible-ness revealed itself as a fear of speaking up for myself . Even while achieving courageous feats for a young Indian woman ( a Navy Diving Course , a commercial pilot ’ s licence , extremesporting excellence ), my inner voice fed me constant lies that it was impossible for me to be powerful in my speech . I felt it was not my place to speak my mind , and that it would be disrespectful or unpleasant if I voiced my personal demands or opinions .
You may be like me and limit yourself through the way you communicate with others , or your self-imposed impossibility may reveal itself in other ways . But , however you have unconsciously chosen to be small , there are steps you can take every day that will allow you to creep closer to the edges of what is truly possible for you .
Step out of your comfort zone : Don ' t allow a sense of comfort hold you back from taking risks , or reaching for greater potential .
Stop playing safe : Dare to think outside of the box , and befriend failure . When we are reaching for what ’ s possible , we might ‘ fail ’, but what matters most is that we work to embody the kind of courage that stirs the spirit and inspires us to expand our frontier of possibility .
Push past the fear : Fear holds most people back in life : the fear of failure , of rejection , of not being good enough . Most of these fears stem from the limiting beliefs that we have about ourselves , and these often come from our experiences with , and feedback from , our family and friends . Learn to push past fear and , importantly , surround yourself with people who encourage and believe in you , and help you have faith in your potential .
Cheat your mind : Your mind is not always your friend , and it does not always tell you the truth . So , learn to challenge and cheat your own mind . Tell yourself , it doesn ’ t matter what my mind suggests , I shall challenge it and I shall overcome .
Most importantly , learn to trust yourself . Rather than limiting yourself through your thoughts , know that you can actualise any of your dreams … and achieve the impossible … by stoking your inner fire of self-belief and determination .
Smriti Goswami is a business mentor , life coach and certified facilitator of several Access Consciousness ® special programs , including Joy of Business , Being You , and Access Bars ® . A committed advocate for women ’ s empowerment , she offers individual consultations and classes around the world .
20 OH ! MAGAZINE ( MARCH 2018 )