Why and how can we usually hold ourselves back, prevent ourselves from doing something even when we really want to do it?
Here is a non-exhaustive list, all of which is (was) true for me anyway: fear, feeling of not being good enough, imposter syndrome, limiting beliefs, self-deprecation, belittling, what will others think?
Negative, self-deprecating, self-abusive thoughts can be very deeply embedded, hardwired into the neural pathways. They are mostly embedded through past experiences, especially from childhood. In the past, they may have served, protected us in certain situations, which may have led to the development of beliefs that we perceive as truth, but today they are no longer useful, no longer supportive, quite the contrary. The good news is that they can be unlearned.
Change is always possible, even if it is sometimes very scary. My own experience is that if there is someone holding space for us, when one takes the steps towards change, the transformation happens very soon, but never sooner than we are prepared for, than we can accept. I myself have received wonderful helpers and teachers on the never-ending path of self-knowledge. But no one can walk that path for us! Recognizing ourselves, recognizing our own uniqueness, knowing who we are, validating our achievements are all part of this journey to a healthy self-worth. Last but not least, believe in yourself and let your heart lead the way!
