5 Paradigms That Are Holding You Back & How to Break Free

What are paradigms?

Paradigms, in this context, are patterns of thought.

They're your personal set of beliefs that set the tone of your reality.

Paradigms are statements you believe to be true and since your brain will do its best to match your expectations, all that you experience around you will reflect and reinforce your paradigms.

They're often inherited from those who brought you up, and from the cultures and societies you were exposed to.

Paradigms are extremely powerful.

And the best thing? They can be amended and changed at any point.

Because chances are, your paradigms are working against your wishes and your best efforts to achieve your desires.

And it's not your fault.

You're prey to toxic systems designed to programme you in ways that keep you stuck, keep you sick, and keep you consuming.

But once you notice your paradigms, you can reprogramme them. And once you start to notice them, you get better at spotting more. You can redial yourself into a whole new reality, one you've consciously created over the current subscription you've been tricked into accepting.

Here are 5 examples of common paradigms and how you can reframe them to become more supportive to your success.

1. Expecting things to go wrong - because they always do. Things always go wrong for me. Things never work out for me.

Start to break this paradigm by changing how you view things "going wrong."

Firstly, an alternative outcome to the one expected doesn't have to mean it's gone wrong. It's merely gone differently, which is OK. Remember rejection is actually redirection.

When things take a more challenging path, view this as an opportunity to develop - whether it's a new skill or an experience, the situation is preparation for the future.

When unexpected inconveniences cause havoc, ask yourself what am I being shown or what am I developing from this event.

This will alter your perception of situations from something negative that you feel is created out of malicious intent toward you, to something positive created to support you in achieving your goals.

Things are not happening to you. They're happening because of you. They're happening for you.

A situation is not actually what's stressful.

It is your response, your feelings, to a situation that causes the release of the stress hormones, therefore making it stressful.

By altering how you think about things "going wrong" you'll save yourself a whole load of stress.

When you believe things will go wrong, they will.

So start believing things are going to work out for you because, guess what? There might be lessons to learn through things "going wrong" along the way, but it can still work out, and will.

Repeat these affirmations to yourself as often as possible, display them on your mirror and phone screen, write them down at every opportunity.

Things work out for me.

It is all rigged in my favour.

I can and will pass the tests I encounter.

2. Feeling broke and like there's never enough money. I'm always skint. I can never afford to do that.

I think in a world where everything costs money there are very few folk who feel they "have enough money" because there is pretty much ALWAYS SOMETHING a person might want but can't afford - from clothing, to a holiday, a home improvement or even a bigger food shopping budget.

Since this mindset of not having enough is extremely bad for us and makes us super easy to manipulate, it is of course an utmost priority to keep us in this state. Our senses are assaulted with products and trends and we're encouraged to keep up no matter the cost and to judge those who don't.

It is, therefore, a difficult paradigm to truly break out of.

But what is absolutely key to begin with is gratitude.

Focus on all you do have and start with the basics.

Things like a home, running water, comfort, warmth, a bed, a friend, a garden, a job.

Think of yourself as rich if you're able to pay your bills - because so many genuinely can't.

Think of yourself as rich if you're happy. So many aren't.

Reframe going to work as an opportunity to earn money, an opportunity to be productive or helpful.

Rise above the need to compete with others.

Heal yourself into not needing or valuing material items.

True wealth is feeling regulated, it's appreciating the small things and recognising the beauty in nature. It's choosing to not feed into fast fashion.

Invest in the thing that has a much higher value than money ever could - your energy.

Coming from a place of "I have everything I need in this moment and I'm grateful" rather than "I want so many things and I'll never be able to afford them" totally transforms the energy you're putting out there. You're coming from a place of abundance which attracts more of that same thing.

If nothing else, you'll feel more peaceful and calm when you reshape your thoughts like this, which surely in itself is priceless.

3. Things like that don't happen to me.

You can do all the manifesting in the world but if deep down you're thinking, this won't work for me, then you're purely sabotaging your own success.

Imagine yourself in wild and amazing situations, things you would love to do, whether that's standing under a waterfall or walking the red carpet, and really build up a feeling of excitement for that situation happening. How would it really feel? If you find yourself trying to shut it down or playing it small, push through and override it.

This is a fun bit of visualisation training.

Your brain doesn't know what's real and what you're making up - you can reestablish yourself as the type of person that cool stuff does happen to.

Have fun thinking about amazing scenarios you would like to find yourself in, dare to dream big.

People often say they'd rather prepare for the worst, than to hope and be disappointed. Well, I'm here to tell you with that attitude the worst is exactly what you'll create for yourself - and how disappointing is that?

Better to live with hope in your heart and secure in the knowledge that if something doesn't work out, there's a bigger reason you may not yet understand. You'll gain necessary tools and experience for the next time and maybe it'll turn out to be redirection altogether.

4. It doesn't matter what I do. I have no power over the outcome.

You're forgiven for thinking your actions can't change the world or have an impact on big issues, but you do possess a powerful potential and you're giving it away with beleifs like this.

It is not your job to stress about fixing things. But when you live a life that's aligned to your self, your morals and priorities, when you love and look after yourself, you raise the collective consciousness. Your light, your energy, will lift and heal others. By being you, owning your power, it is enough to make an important difference.

Thoughts like, it's pointless anyway, are heavy and will drag you way down. Raise up with thoughts like, I matter, my life matters, I choose kindness and I choose to shine.

5. I don't want for much. It could be worse.

At first glance, these could be healthy ways of coping. But they're downright limiting you. And could even be attracting more of what you don't want...

It could be worse... yes, it could be, here, have more.

It's absolutely fine and dandy to be thinking I'm so happy and grateful for all that I have. But telling yourself you don't want for much not only limits you, it comes from a place of lack and will therefore attract even more of it.

Just remember you'll get more of what you believe to be true. It's you setting the bar.

Show gratitude by being specific about what you're actually grateful for.

You can even challenge yourself to fill a minute with all the things you're grateful for - it's harder than you'd think when you first start.

Changing Paradigms

Of course it will take effort to rewrite your paradigms. It took me a long time to really understand what I was looking for and once discovered, you have to be vigilant at spotting and challenging them when they crop up.

Paradigms are embedded deep within your subconscious and they're the measures you're sure of. They're grooved into your brain, they form the parameters of what you believe is possible.

Rewriting them won't be easy. But it will get easier, the more you do it. And it'll be so, so, so worth it.

Whilst there are also other areas that must be aligned for guaranteed success, ignoring your paradigms will seriously disadvantage you.

You'll have paradigms around relationships, jobs, money, success and everything in between.

The only tool you need to begin tackling them right now, is your awareness.

Did you relate to these common paradigms?

What paradigm are you working on right now?

Help others with their journey by sharing yours in the comments.