The Stories We Outgrow: Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs
If you’re in a creative field—whether you lead a team, build brands, start businesses, produce experiences, or craft ideas that shape culture—you probably know this tension well:
Your mind is full of vision, ideas, and drive... and also, at times, full of noise.
That noise sounds like:
“You’re not original enough.”
“Someone’s already doing this better.”
“Play it safe. Don’t risk being seen too much.”
“You’re not qualified. You’re just lucky.”
“You should be further along by now.”
That voice isn’t truth. It’s a belief. And like most limiting beliefs, it’s outdated.
If you're feeling stuck or creatively blocked—even while technically doing “the thing”—it may not be a strategy problem. It might be a belief problem.
Because even high-performing creatives can secretly operate from inner narratives that keep them playing small.
What Are Limiting Beliefs (And Why Do They Hit Creatives Hard)?
Limiting beliefs are assumptions we’ve internalized—often unconsciously—that restrict how we see ourselves and what we believe we’re capable of.
They’re the mental rules that govern how much space we allow ourselves to take up. And for people in creative industries, those rules can be especially loaded.
You may have heard yourself think:
“I’m not a real creative—I just manage the people who are.”
“I’m successful, but not legitimately successful.”
“If I slow down, I’ll fall behind.”
“I need to have it all figured out before I take a risk.”
“I’m too much. I’m not enough. I’m too late.”
Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: creatives are idea-rich, but that often comes with higher sensitivity, higher standards, and deeper fears about being seen, rejected, or misunderstood. If your identity is even loosely tied to what you produce or lead, limiting beliefs can hit at the core.
But beliefs are not facts. They’re interpretations. And interpretations can evolve.
Why Your Mindset Matters as Much as Your Skillset
Creative professionals are often praised for innovation, output, and originality. But behind the scenes, many are operating under immense internal pressure—and wondering why they still feel stuck, scattered, or secretly not good enough.
Here’s why this matters:
Limiting belief → constricted emotion → hesitation → disconnection
Empowering belief → grounded emotion → aligned action → momentum
You can have the experience, the resources, and the network—but if your inner framework is shaped by fear or unworthiness, it’ll show up in how you lead, create, and take risks.
Shifting your beliefs isn’t just a personal development idea. It’s a creative edge.
Step One: Listen to the Internal Narrative
If you’re feeling blocked, burned out, or stuck at a plateau, try asking yourself:
What’s the story I’m telling myself about why I feel this way?
What am I assuming is true about myself or my work?
Would I say this to someone I deeply respect?
Maybe you’ve been carrying a belief like:
“My best work is behind me.”
“I’m always the one who gets overlooked.”
“I need to prove I’m worth listening to.”
The goal here isn’t to shame yourself—it’s to get conscious of what’s been running the show.
Once you spot the belief, you have a choice.
Step Two: Ask, “Is This Story Still Serving Me?”
Most limiting beliefs were formed during a specific moment of fear, failure, or feedback. And often, they made sense at the time. They were survival tools. But you’ve grown since then.
Ask yourself:
Who gave me this belief—and do I still trust their judgment?
Is this belief still accurate, or just familiar?
What is this belief costing me in energy, opportunity, or joy?
Once you realize you’ve outgrown a belief, you create space for something new.
Step Three: Choose a More Expansive Belief
Here’s the key: your new belief doesn’t have to be dramatic or unrealistic. It just needs to feel slightly more empowering and directional.
Try these reframes:
“I’m not good enough” → “I’m more capable than I give myself credit for.”
“If I show up fully, people will judge me” → “My voice might be exactly what someone needs.”
“I need to earn rest” → “Rest fuels my creativity and clarity.”
The best beliefs aren’t flashy. They’re grounded. They help you move through uncertainty with more trust and less self-censorship.
Step Four: Let Your Actions Reflect Your Belief
Once you shift a belief, act from it—even in small ways.
If you believe “I have value to share,” post the idea. Speak up in the meeting. Submit the proposal. Raise your rate. Let your behavior match your mindset.
Each time you follow through from a new belief, you create evidence. And evidence creates momentum.
You’re not just affirming something—you’re embodying it.
Step Five: Expect Resistance—And Keep Going Anyway
This part’s important: old beliefs don’t disappear overnight. You’ll still hear the doubt. But now you’ll recognize it for what it is: an echo, not a truth.
The goal isn’t to become perfectly confident. It’s to notice when fear is talking, and choose not to let it drive.
This is where coaching, reflection, or supportive community comes in. Growth happens faster—and feels less lonely—when someone can hold the mirror to your brilliance when you forget.
You’re Allowed to Outgrow the Stories That Got You Here
Maybe you’ve built a whole career on working twice as hard to prove yourself. Maybe you’ve succeeded by being the one who never makes waves. Maybe you’ve hidden your deeper ideas behind perfectionism or performance.
You can honor the version of you that did that. You can thank them.
And then, when you’re ready—you can let go.
You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to redefine success. You’re allowed to change the way you lead, create, and show up.
You are not your old beliefs. You are not your job title. You are not your imposter syndrome.
You are creative. Evolving. And ready for more aligned momentum.
Let’s Shift the Inner Script
If you’re craving more clarity, confidence, and direction in your creative work or leadership—but keep running into internal resistance—I’d love to support you.
As a certified life and career coach based in Los Angeles (and working virtually nationwide), I help creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionary professionals shift the beliefs that are keeping them stuck—and take aligned, sustainable action from a place of truth and power.
👉 Click here to schedule a free discovery call.
You don’t have to wait for everything to feel perfect. You just have to start with what feels true.
Let’s rewrite the story—so it actually sounds like you.