You’d think your own brain would be on your side, wouldn’t you?

Fighting your corner…

Encouraging your ambitions…

Pushing you to succeed…

Well, sadly, this is not so.

Your brain can be a totally and utter B*****D at times.

Okay, sure, the brain is an organ within your skull that runs a lot of the show… keeping your body moving, processing memories, learning new things.

But it’s not always helpful.

For instance, when you say things like…

“Oh, I’m not organised enough to do that…”

“I’m not the kind of person who could get up and speak to a crowd”….

“I’m hopeless with numbers”…

“I can never finish anything…”

It might feel like these are TRUE and REAL limitations, based on your experience and self-knowledge.

But recent neuroscience says otherwise.

There’s an area of your brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which is involved in executive function and decision-making.

According to a 2022 study in Nature Communications, this patch of grey matter is also responsible for setting and maintaining self-imposed boundaries.

So when you tell yourself “I’m just not good with figures” or “I’m too old to start learning this tech tool,” you’re not running into some kind of biological wall.

It’s your DLPFC quietly setting limitations.

Which means it’s not because you can’t possibly do these things…

Instead, it’s because you’ve decided (on a deeper cognitive level) that you won’t.

You’re just letting the decision-making part of your brain set you up to fail – or rather, not even to TRY.

This is what we mean when we talk about a ‘mindset’.

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘mindset’ a zillion times before, and you might assume that it’s just a glib self-help idea that’s bandied around by toothy, grinning gurus, or splayed across motivational posters.

But there’s good science behind it.

A 2023 study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that people with fixed self-limitations performed much worse on cognitive tasks compared to those who believed they had the potential to improve… even when their baseline abilities were similar.

In other words, it confirmed what motivational posters have been telling us for years….

That if you adopt a growth mindset, you can achieve amazing things in life.

So, the next time you tell yourself “I just don’t have a knack for [insert skill here],” remember—it’s not your genuine abilities that are holding you back.

It’s that trickster area of your brain pulling down the shutters and keeping you ‘safe’.

In fact, Neuroscientist David Eagleman has found that our brain’s processing capacity far exceeds what we actually believe it does.

His research shows that we can learn new sensory inputs, expand our perception, and push our brains to do more than we ever thought possible.

But instead of tapping into that, we decide that we’re limited to what we learned in school…. or in our first disastrous experiences in work or relationships…

Age isn’t an excuse either,,,,

How Attitude Is More Powerful Than Biology

A groundbreaking 2019 study in Nature found that older adults who maintained a positive attitude about ageing performed just as well as their younger counterparts on cognitive tasks.

Which means that age-related cognitive decline may be another self-imposed limitation.

If you believe you can still keep up with the kids – then you just might!

As I mentioned a few weeks back, research has shown that people of 40 and 50 are BETTER at starting and maintaining businesses than younger people.

The same goes for our genetics…

A 2022 study found that simply telling people they had a genetic predisposition for certain traits dramatically changed their performance—even when the information was fake.

That’s right. These people were handed fabricated data, and it still managed to sway how they performed.

Why? Simply because they believed in it.

It goes to show how malleable our perceived limitations are.

Interestingly, there’s also evidence that limiting beliefs are contagious!

Why Limiting Beliefs Are as Catchy as a Cold

In a 2021 study from Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers found that we tend to pick up the limiting beliefs of those around us.

So if you’re surrounded by gloomy Eeyore types who see the worst in everything, and that nothing ever really changes or improves, then you are likely to feel that too.

So, when someone around you says, “People our age don’t start new businesses,” or “No one in this family can sing,” your brain simply adds that to your list of excuses.

It’s like living in a self-doubt echo chamber, except the walls are made of other people’s insecurities.

So, what can you actually do about all this?

Stop Feeding Your Brain ‘Junk Thoughts’

The first thing is to understand that self-limiting thoughts are a bit like junk food.

They offer a comforting hit of reassurance, allowing you to feel safe and satisfied with what you have, and not to step beyond the comfort zone…

But over time they build into toxic, fatty deposits that block your capacity for change and growth.

So you need to stop feeding your brain negative self-talk.

That begins with becoming aware of these thoughts in the first place, and recognising them AS thoughts, not real biological or mental limitations.

Write them down every time they come to you… (keep a notepad handy or use the notes app on your smartphone!)

Next, you need to challenge those beliefs.

Every time you catch yourself saying “I can’t,” ask yourself, “Can’t…. or won’t?”

Are you really incapable of doing that thing, or have you just been living with that mindset for so long it feels like a fact?

Reframing those self-limiting thoughts isn’t easy but it’s worth it.

Finally, seek out other people who have a positive mindset and avoid those who like to bring you down or put you in your place.

If you can’t do that in real life, go online – join Facebook Groups or follow inspiring people on Instagram.

Feed your mind the idea that anything is possible!