I’ve been at this whole freelance design thing for just over 6 years now.
That’s over 2,191 days (mostly spent at a desk, staring at my screen with bad posture).
Something I’ve learned over this time is that while some things come and go, others remain constant.
One constant in my journey has been limiting beliefs.
While the specific doubts have changed over time, their presence remains constant - at least in my experience, and I suspect many of you face similar struggles, whether you’re aware of them or not.
I think this is important to highlight because many of us see limiting beliefs as something to conquer, assuming that once we overcome them, life will be good and nothing will hold us back.
But the truth is, especially when it comes to growing a business, that when you overcome one problem and level up to the next stage, you unlock a whole new set of challenges.
Let’s take my limiting beliefs as an example.
When I was starting out, the doubts in my head centered around “Am I a good designer?” I questioned whether my work was strong enough, whether I’d ever measure up to the designers I admired.
Then, as I started getting clients, the fear shifted to “Can I build a successful business?”
Suddenly, it wasn’t just about designing anymore, I had to figure out how to manage multiple clients, make life-altering decisions, and lead a team.
Later, as I shifted to focus on helping other designers, it became “Am I qualified to do this? Am I even a good teacher? Or just a big phoney who can speak on camera?”
The doubts never fully go away.
The problems don’t disappear.
They both just evolve.
These limiting beliefs were overcome because I built up solid evidence that proved them wrong.
But that doesn’t mean I no longer have any self-doubt or negative thoughts about myself.
Here’s what my current limiting beliefs look like:
I’m not mentally strong
I’m not good at speaking off the cuff
I’m not very intelligent
I’m scared of what others think
I’m not a ‘business’ person
But I know these beliefs are false. Here’s my evidence:
I get up early and work out every day
I’ve spoken unscripted on podcasts, YouTube videos, and IG stories
I’ve self-taught myself brand design and built a business around it
I put myself out there on social media
I literally started a business
Remember: it’s normal to have thoughts of not being good enough. Just focus on building up evidence to disprove them, and be ready to repeat the process as you continue
growing.
Abi 😊
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