When Beliefs Hold Us Back – and Move Us Forward

This week’s coaching sessions have really made me reflect on the power of our beliefs — both how they can limit us and how they can colour our days and lives with a negative lens.

Working with clients on their limiting beliefs has been eye-opening. I can see so clearly that what they believe often isn’t reality. And that’s made me turn the mirror on myself: What am I believing that might be holding me back?

I never expected it to be easy, starting my own business. But this week, I’ve struggled to find focus. I’ve caught myself thinking:

• My coaching isn’t good enough — so what’s the point?
• No one will want to buy from me.
• Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong focus.
• There isn't even space for me in the market

Those thoughts left me feeling unmotivated and stuck. But as the week draws to a close, here’s what I’ve realised:

1. I’m still training — I’m not expected to know everything. The more you learn, the more you realise you don’t know. And that’s not failure; it’s growth.
2. What you feel inside is not always what others see. Clients who lack confidence don’t appear that way to me.
3. Authenticity matters. For years I conformed and tried to show up how I think I “should” show up. A co-delegate recently said to me, “You can see you thinking, and that’s a great thing for your coachee — it shows you care.” That stuck with me.
4. Messy doesn’t mean unhelpful. A coaching session that felt chaotic to me still gave my client valuable space to think.
5. Working with my neurodiversity makes a difference. I’ve stopped forcing myself to focus when my brain isn’t ready, and instead I harness periods of hyperfocus to achieve a lot in a short time.
6. Building a business takes time. I need to keep trying, be bold, and believe 
7. Space is created and deserved by hard work not a given.
8. Patience is something I am learning to embrace (although still feels hard)

Our beliefs can either hold us back or propel us forward. This week reminded me that choosing which ones to hold onto makes all the difference.