Time to Retire This Thought: Rewriting the Narrative Holding You Back

If we were to press pause on our inner dialogue, many of us would be surprised by how often we repeat the same limiting beliefs:

“I’m not good enough.”

“I need more experience.”

“If I speak up, they’ll think I’m too much.”

These thoughts don’t just visit us—they settle in, take up space, and quietly influence how we show up at work, in interviews, in relationships, and even in our personal dreams.

But what if we gave ourselves permission to retire those narratives?

Here’s how to start:

1. Identify the Thought That’s Stuck

What’s the recurring belief that keeps you from taking action or showing up fully? Get honest. Call it out so you can call it in.

2. Trace the Root

Ask yourself: Where did this belief come from? A critical teacher? A toxic workplace? A societal expectation? Often, these narratives aren’t even ours—they’re learned.

3. Write a New Script

Replace that thought with one rooted in self-compassion and possibility. Instead of “I’m not qualified,” try “I’m qualified to learn.” Instead of “I don’t belong here,” try “I earned my seat.”

4. Repeat and Reinforce

Growth requires repetition. Say it out loud. Write it on a sticky note. Make it your new mental wallpaper.

Here’s a mantra for the week:

I don’t have to be who I was taught to be—I can become who I’m meant to be.

Let’s make room for beliefs that build, not break.