There are few things in this life that are more defeating than LIMITING BELIEFS! Limiting beliefs are those things we feel “We Can’t Do!” And of course I’m not talking about outlandish things like singing professionally if we have a horrible voice, being the President of the United States if we’ve never been in politics, or being a professional race car driver if we’ve never raced. I’m talking about the simpler things in life that we may feel limited or constrained by. Many of these things are driven by mindsets and thought processes that we’ve developed over the years from people who have influenced us and caused us to believe we can’t or shouldn’t do something. And if we really start to ponder it, we find out that there are probably a whole lot more of the “I Can’t’s” patronizing our lives than what we realize! All of these little foxes that spoil the vine that we COULD DO, if we change our stinking thinking…
Some of these ideologies come from our childhood and still others are attached to us in our adult lives from those around us. Let’s examine a few of them….and by all means, if anything comes to mind as I share these, definitely jot them down!
I am a fairly flamboyant dresser and love to dress up when I can. I wear clothes that make me feel good. I’m not looking for attention nor do I really care who notices and who doesn’t what I’m wearing. I dress for me and to my liking. Do I enjoy compliments? Of course. Who doesn’t?! Everyone of us need encouragement! I’m not into name brands and never have been. I wear what I look good in and as a matter of fact, I don’t stay up with fads because they change more quickly than some people change shoes. Some of the basic pieces in my wardrobe are twenty years old but in great condition because I take care of my clothes. I also love second hand stores and have found some of the most amazing pieces at the Goodwill and Consignment shops. Some people may make snap judgements about me because of the way I dress, but hey, that’s there problem. Why make it mine?!
My daughter-in-law’s family were Amish and hand me downs were rampant in their family of six. Now she’s opposed to second hand clothes. The Amish back ground ruined her. But she’s no different than families that struggled to make ends meet and had to pick up used items as a means of survival. Children that grow up and can afford more may feel the same way, and that’s ok! I used to take my kids to these stores while they were growing up it. They realize they can often find new things for the fraction of the cost than in high dollar stores! And, they can definitely get more for their money if they search… We bought a lot of new clothes as well, but they were never opposed to second hand.
I’m a classic winter when color coded. I don’t even know if color analysis is a thing any more, but I’m sure it is…Because of it, I wear a boat load of bright colors every where I go and get tons of compliments. I’ve even been stopped on multiple occasion’s and told I was a “Breath of fresh air!” Many people are bound by the ideology that they shouldn’t draw attention to themselves, because it’s prideful and self-centered. Some women believe that wearing a lot of jewelry is wrong. (And there’s actually scripture that alludes to that, but all scriptures should be interpreted in context according to what may have been happening that time in the culture and historically). I’m all for wearing as much jewelry as you feel comfortable with. I’ve met women that wear a ring on every finger and if they like it, that’s all that matters!
I was recently talking to a friend at church and she was telling me how much she loves the color red. She went on to say that every time she’s worn it, her husband and lots of people compliment her. It’s. obviously her color, and yet she hasn’t worn it in a long, long time. I got the immediate sense that she falls into the category of “not wanting to draw attention to herself,” and certainly if that is a deep conviction for her or you, who am I to say otherwise? BUT, (and that’s a big BUT), if it’s a simple mindset you picked up that you made a rule of constraint out of, isn’t it time to kick it to the curb and be SET FREE? I assure you Jesus is not against you wearing red or any other bright color for that matter! I challenged her to wear her red this next Sunday, and I truly believe she will. (You see,…my friends limitation to not wear bright colors could have been instilled in her some where a long the line, so much so that it became a mindset of pure bondage). I CAN’T WEAR MUCH JEWELRY OR BRIGHT COLORS BECAUSE…
For women, some do not wear make up for the very same reason. They are inadvertently afraid they will draw attention to themselves or if married, attract unwanted attention from the opposite sex. I’ve heard it said countless times, “Even old barns look better with a fresh coat of paint.” I say a hearty AMEN to that! Makeup is meant to enhance beauty, not detract from it. (And surely, it’s a personal choice whether women wear it or don’t! I CAN’T WEAR MAKE UP BECAUSE…
Still others refrain from wearing white in the winter because it’s been taught for literal years, that we can’t. Who says? Wear your dang white in the middle of winter. Go out and show the world that you’re choosing to swim upstream and not be bound by that nonsense. I CAN’T WEAR WHITE IN THE WINTER BECAUSE…
I have a friend in Mesa who loves gardening and has been invited to speak numerous places about gardening and healthy eating. Her garden area is an artists delight. (See Photo Above)! She has bright outdoor art pieces throughout. She went so far as to paint the inside of her stone walls in purple, turquoise, yellow, orange and green to compliment her art pieces. There’s a whole lot of HAPPY in her garden area! Now my HOA probably wouldn’t allow that but I’m not giving up on the idea because it wouldn’t be seen from the front or back of my home, so….I CAN’T PAINT BRIGHT COLORS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF MY HOME BECAUSE…
At our home in New Mexico we put in dark wood floors. I was just itching to paint some accent walls orange, so I did. And oh my word, you would not believe how much warmth and pop it brought to our living room and dining room! I went so far as to paint one wall in my bedroom with a red and gold stripe. Though that’s something I’m not drawn to now because I’m no longer into either color, it sure made me happy at the time!
I must tell you, my husband Gary & I lived in New Mexico for twenty-three years. By and large, the desert there is pretty darn drab and BROWN. Makes me hyperventilate just thinking about it. (No offense to any of my friends that might read this from my home of twenty-three years)! My husband put up an arbor for me and a plant poll that held six hanging flower baskets. PURE JOY! I also had a wooden swing and bar with four bar stools that had seen their better days. I was bound forever by the mindset that I couldn’t do anything outlandish in my backyard. One day it hit me. That was a mindset and limiting belief I had to break out of for my own good. I grabbed sand paper, and a ton of paint: Lime green, hot pink, turquoise, purple and yellow and went to freakin’ town, and boom! I had a backyard that made me happier than a pig in poop! I CAN’T PAINT WOODEN PIECES IN MY BACK YARD BRIGHT COLORS BECAUSE…
I was just listening to a video on Instagram by my favorite makeup artist. She literally confirmed many of the things I’ve written here. LIMITING BELIEFS ABOUT WARDROBE! She was talking about wardrobe colors and about a a lady’s aunt who had told her she couldn’t wear pink. The gal loves pink. (See, that too is a nasty limiting belief)! She needs to wear her darn pink and who the heck cares about what her aunt said.
I’m hoping you just might have a list of a few LIMITING BELIEFS or “I CAN’TS” that came to mind as you were reading this! I challenge you to take a few courageous steps to eliminating those bad boys outa your life and putting them to rest! Isn’t it time?
