Do you ever feel there’s something standing in the way of your happiness? Do you ever think When I get “there,” I’ll be happy or When I finally have “this,” I’ll find joy or If I accomplish “that,” I’ll be at peace and feel good?

There is something standing in the way of our happiness... OURSELVES! It’s difficult to notice just how often our own limiting beliefs - untrue stories about ourselves - keep us stuck living in mediocrity. We want joy and happiness, but our confidence – or lack thereof – and untrue stories keeps us trapped.

I’ve been there. My biggest setbacks and discouragements in life came because I owned stories, from a very young age, that others told me about me that simply weren’t true. Somehow their stories became my own and turned into limiting beliefs that held me back.

At one point in my life, I was completely consumed by fear, worry, and self-doubt. I was my own worst critic and never believed I was good enough. I was afraid to step into my own power. I became a master at shrinking to fit what everyone else expected of me—which I thought was very little.

Maybe you identify with a variation of this story. Every individual—no matter how successful or unfortunate, wealthy or poor, old or young—is capable of overcoming their limiting beliefs and allowing themselves to step into their own happiness.

Here are four simple tips to help us overcome limiting beliefs, whatever they may be.

Play in the space outside your comfort zone.

Getting comfortable with the comfortable is what keeps you playing safe and within the space you habitually play. But... outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens. It’s time to believe in yourself and take a few risks. You can start by changing your routine up a bit – brush the bottom row of your teeth before the top or drive a different way to work tomorrow. Then graduate to doing things you’ve been a little fearful of – zip-lining, public speaking, even a new hairstyle. Create a bucket list! Ask yourself... What happens if this works out better than I ever imagined it would? Then let it and watch your confidence soar!

Surround yourself with support.

It’s important to find people who support your dreams and believe in you, even when you may not believe in yourself. Create a team you can turn to for help, people you feel comfortable will be there when you need them. Meanwhile, begin distancing yourself from negative people who drain you of good energy and think of their own success more often than yours.

Embrace gratitude.

Thank the members of your team often, for even the littlest things they do to support you. Look around and notice all you have to be grateful for. Keeping a daily gratitude journal will help you see the many things you have to be grateful for. That breath you just took. Be grateful. The person who held open the door. Thank them. Send thank you notes, even for little things. Ask yourself, How much better can it get?

Celebrate you.

Find something - anything – to celebrate about YOU, every day. Meeting a deadline, a newly discovered talent, a good hair day. You deserve a 5-star award for what you accomplish. Be sure to applaud yourself every night.

Once we overcome our own limiting beliefs, we can transform our perspective, give ourselves permission to be our amazing, extraordinary, magical selves, and take back power over our own happiness.

More information about these four tips, plus concrete exercises and practical tools to remove physical, mental, and spiritual blocks to our happiness, can be found in Teri’s book, Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life (Balboa Press).

[Buy the Book »]

Hire Teri to Speak

Motivating and empowering your employees or members of your team to break through their own barriers can reap huge dividends, not only for them, but also for you and your organization. To learn more about hiring Teri to speak at your office, event or off-site retreat, Click Here.