We’ve all faced the sneaky traps of limited mindsets. You know, those pesky little thoughts that whisper, “I can’t do this,” or “This isn’t for someone like me.” Sound familiar? It’s time to kick those thoughts to the curb and embrace a world of possibilities.

The Tale of Emily: From Doubt to Dominance

Emily was a rising star in her tech firm, known for her brilliant coding skills. But whenever a leadership role came up, she’d think, “I’m just a coder, not a leader.”

One day, her mentor asked her, “Why not you, Emily?” That question hit her hard. Why not, indeed? Emily realized she had pigeonholed herself into a ‘coder-only’ mindset. She decided to challenge this self-imposed limit. It’s amazing how many times the stories we tell ourselves are the source of our rejection.

Fast forward a year, and guess what? Emily led one of the most successful projects her company had seen in years. She broke free from her limited mindset and soared.

Mindset Traps
  • The “Not for Me” Trap: Ever seen a job posting and thought, “This isn’t for someone like me?” It’s easy to think certain roles or opportunities are reserved for a specific type of person – one that’s not you.
  • The Perfection Paralysis: Waiting to be 100% ready or perfect before taking a step. Here’s a secret – no one’s ever 100% ready. Dive in, and you’ll learn to swim along the way.
  • The Comparison Conundrum: Comparing your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20 is a surefire way to feel inadequate. Remember, every expert was once a beginner.
Flipping the Script
  • Embrace the Power of Yet: Can’t do something? Add a ‘yet’ to it. “I can’t lead a team, yet.” See the difference? It’s about growth, not fixed abilities.
  • Celebrate Small Wins: Every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Celebrate it! These little victories add up to big successes.
  • Seek Discomfort: Comfort zones are cozy, but growth happens outside of them. Challenge yourself regularly. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable. That’s where the magic happens. I have a friend who likes to ask me, “What have you done today that scares you?” Seek out this kind of encouragement to be uncomfortable. 
The Bottom Line

Our mindsets can be our greatest allies or our worst enemies. It’s all about how we tune them. Let’s choose to see possibilities, not limitations. Let’s be the Emily in our own stories – breaking free, rising up, and shining bright.

The only limits that truly exist are the ones we place on ourselves.

Connect with Michele on LinkedIn or read more of her articles on Plaid.