For most of my twenties, I lived inside a prison I didn’t even know existed. There were no walls, no guards, no bars—just my own thoughts.
On the outside, I looked “fine.” I had a degree, a job, a social life. But internally, I was running a constant commentary of doubt and fear.
I thought I wasn’t smart enough, wasn’t confident enough, wasn’t “ready yet” for anything big.
That’s the tricky thing about self-limiting beliefs: they whisper so quietly you mistake them for truth. Looking back now, I realize I spent nearly a decade playing small because of those quiet voices.
Seven mindset shifts broke the spell—and opened the door to a fuller life.
Author's summary: Self-limiting beliefs held me back for 10 years.