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Sky's the Limit: 4 Ways to Smash Self-Imposed Limitations

Sky's the Limit: 4 Ways to Smash Self-Imposed Limitations

Break Barriers with Small Mental Shifts

Kim Pivot
May 31, 2024

Thought

We all have confining factors one way or another, whether they be physical limitations, financial constraints, knowledge gaps, office status, or precedents.

For me, the theme of limitation has been a constant. I've always seen myself as someone who strives to do the best within my confining factors. For a long time, I took pride in this. Naive.

A frog looking up from the bottom of a well at night, illuminated by moonlight

The frog in the well

It's a personality thing: introverted, stubborn, and self-righteous. When I was younger, I had the energy to pursue many things to a level where my ego could be satisfied. At the same time, I was dismissive of new ideas that I didn’t fully grasp. In hindsight, I wasted a lot of time and many valuable opportunities.

Have you ever had mind-blown moments? I’m not talking about an unenthused “wow,” but a real I-can’t-stop-trying-to-understand-this-and-I-must-do-something-about-it-now moment. Whether they come from an ambitious friend, a movie, or an IG post, don’t let those precious moments slip.

It is crucial to be aware of the boundaries of these limitations—not to respect them, but to recognize when it’s time to cross them. Life is too short.

Scoop

How to break-free, quick?

1. Find a mentor - Whatever you are going through, someone has already done that / been there / solved it.

Invest in quality education / knowledge, you are effectively reducing the most discouraging “trial and error” phase, and buying yourself a lot more time.

2. Your mindset is everything - There is almost always a positive way you can frame something.

Your mind is the strongest tool you have: if you think you can’t do something, you most likely won’t be able to, but if you flip it around—imagine the possibility!

3. Don’t just chase what you know - Visualize, read-up from those who have dedicated years to hone their crafts and immerse yourself in the luxury of the unknown.

Give “the absurds” at least one shot before you default to saying no.

4. Challenge your beliefs / embrace bigger challenges / take calculated risks - Question the validity of your limits.

Is [this] all you can handle? What if you do it [this outrageous seeming way]? What is the worse that can happen?

What if I did the opposite for 48 hours?

All of the sales guys made their sales calls between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Obvious, right? But that’s part one.

Part two: I realized that all of the gatekeepers who kept me from the decision makers—CEOs and CTOs—also worked from 9 to 5. What if I did the opposite of all the other sales guys, just for 48 hours? I decided to take a Thursday and Friday and make sales calls only from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. For the rest of the day, I focused on cold emails.

It worked like gangbusters. The big boss often picked up the phone directly…

— Tim Ferris, Tools of Titans

Resource

Book in Brief

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche is a profound and deeply insightful guide blending Tibetan Buddhist wisdom with modern perspectives. Its depth and warmth make it a book worthy of multiple readings, each time offering new reflections and deeper understanding.

Understanding Life and Death: The book emphasizes that understanding death enhances how we live, encouraging a fuller, more fearless approach to life.

Spiritual Practice for Daily Life: Integrates ancient spiritual practices with everyday life, making profound teachings accessible and applicable.

The Power of Mindset: Relevant to overcoming limitations, it stresses the importance of cultivating a positive and mindful mindset.

To illustrate the importance of breaking free from our self-imposed limitations, consider this story from the book:

The Frog in the Well

“Where do you come from?” asked the frog in the well.

“From the great ocean,” he replied.

“How big is your ocean?”

“It’s gigantic.”

“You mean about a quarter of the size of my well here?”

“Bigger.”

“Bigger? You mean half as big?”

“No, even bigger.”

“Is it . . . as big as this well?”

“There’s no comparison.”

“That’s impossible! I’ve got to see this for myself.”

They set off together. When the frog from the well saw the ocean, it was such a shock that his head just exploded into pieces.

— Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

This book is a transformative read that encourages readers to live mindfully and approach death with understanding. Its profound teachings on mindset and breaking free from limitations make it so valuable for personal growth and spiritual development.

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Last Word

The biggest barriers are often in our own minds. No matter what you are experiencing, life is full of opportunities for those who dare to reach beyond. Remember, the sky’s the limit!

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