What’s Holding You Back? How to Uncover and Transform the Beliefs Blocking Your Goals

By Megan Ruffino | Happiness is a Decision

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right—you’ve set a goal, made a plan, taken some action—but somehow, you keep getting stuck?

It’s not laziness. It’s not lack of intelligence or effort.

More often than not, the thing holding you back is something you can’t even see.

It’s a limiting belief.

And the moment you bring it to light, you take back your power.

Today, I’ll walk you through a simple, powerful process I use with my clients as a Master Life Coach with NLP expertise—so you can uncover your hidden blocks and turn them into building blocks.

A limiting belief is a story we’ve unconsciously accepted as truth. It’s often formed in childhood, or in a moment of emotional intensity, and it quietly shapes what we believe is possible.

Some common ones sound like:

• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I always sabotage myself.”
• “People like me don’t succeed.”
• “If I try, I’ll probably fail.”

Even if we don’t say these things out loud, they run in the background like a program—and influence every decision we make.

Start by asking yourself:

What’s one goal I’ve been trying to reach, but haven’t?

Write it down. Be specific.

Then ask:

What’s been getting in the way of this goal?

Let whatever comes up be okay. Whether it’s “I never follow through,” “I’m afraid,” or “I don’t have time”—don’t filter your response. It’s all useful information.

Now ask yourself:

If I 100% believed in myself, what would I be doing differently?

Your answer will reveal the limiting belief that’s been hiding beneath the surface.

For example:

• If you’d be putting yourself forward more, the hidden belief might be: “It’s not safe to be seen.”
• If you’d be charging more for your services, the belief might be: “I’m not worth it.”

Let’s shine a light on it.

• Where did this belief come from?
• Is it actually true—or something I learned or assumed?
• What has it cost me to keep believing this?
• What might be possible if I didn’t believe it anymore?

These questions loosen the belief’s grip. Often, you’ll realise it’s not your truth—just something you absorbed along the way.

Step 4: Flip the Script

Let’s rewrite the story.

Take the old belief and reframe it into something empowering:

Old Belief	Empowering Belief
“I’m not good enough.”	“I’m growing every day and I am more than enough.”
“Success isn’t safe for me.”	“It’s safe for me to thrive and be seen.”
“I’ll never be able to change.”	“Change is natural—I’ve done it before and I can again.”

Try this structure:

Even though I used to believe [old belief], I now choose to believe [new belief] because [reason].

Example:
“Even though I used to believe I wasn’t smart enough, I now choose to believe I’m resourceful and always learning—because I’ve already figured out so much in life.”

Step 5: Anchor the New Belief

• Write your new belief on sticky notes, mirrors, your phone background—anywhere you’ll see it daily.
• Say it aloud with emotion and certainty. Repetition creates new neural pathways.
• Visualise yourself acting from the new belief. Feel it. Live it.
• Make one small decision or action that aligns with the new belief. This is how you turn belief into identity.

You Are Not Your Beliefs

Remember: you are not your beliefs. You are the chooser of your beliefs.

You get to rewrite your story.

And that shift—from limitation to liberation—is how you become the kind of person who naturally attracts the results you desire.

Your happiness is not something you earn.
It’s something you decide.

Want to Go Deeper?

I’ve created a beautiful Limiting Belief Discovery Worksheet you can download for free. It’ll guide you step-by-step through this process so you can release the old stories and claim your goals with clarity and confidence.

👉 Add your email to get the worksheet and join the Happiness is a Decision email community.

With love and belief in your limitless potential,
Megan Ruffino
Happiness is a Decision