Limiting Belief Library
Identity-Level Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Your behaviours aren’t random — they’re wired by identity-level beliefs you may not even know exist.
At ShiftGrit, we call these limiting beliefs — deep-seated emotional patterns like “I am not good enough” or “I don’t matter.” They shape your self-perception, drive coping strategies like avoidance or overfunctioning, and often trace back to protective responses formed long ago.
This page is part of our Limiting Belief Library — a blog-style collection that explores how specific beliefs form, what patterns they trigger, and how we recondition them in therapy. Each belief reflects a deeper internal loop that shapes how clients respond to pressure, risk, and connection.
Looking for the full mapped set of belief patterns, schema definitions, and therapeutic pairings?
🔗 Visit our Core Beliefs Hub for the canonical index that powers our structured identity-level model.
By
“I Am Weak” — A Core Limiting Belief
When the belief “I Am Weak” takes hold, it can drive avoidance of vulnerability, overcompensation through perfectionism, and…
“I Am Permanently Damaged” — A Core Limiting Belief
“I Am Permanently Damaged” is a core belief that often emerges after traumatic or deeply invalidating experiences. It…
“I Am Defective” — A Core Limiting Belief
“I Am Defective” is a deep-rooted core belief that can leave a person constantly scanning for signs that…
“There Is Something Wrong With Me” — A Core Limiting Belief
A belief that quietly erodes self-trust. “There is something wrong with me” drives hypervigilance, shame, and the constant…
“I Will Fail” — A Core Limiting Belief
Belief #58: I Will Fail is a core identity-level belief that quietly drives fear of risk, underperformance, procrastination,…
“I Am Unbalanced” — A Core Limiting Belief
“I never feel stable.” The belief I Am Unbalanced creates inner chaos — mentally, emotionally, or behaviourally. It…
