This could be why you're stuck

I wrecked my back doing a dumb exercise - 1-arm DB Snatches. 

Allow me to correct that statement… I was being dumb while doing them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that exercise. Doing dozens of them with a 50 lb DB as fast as possible while also doing Burpees is less than brilliant. 

At the time, I believed recurring injuries were my fate. Inescapable. Just another cross I had to bear. Suck it up. Soldier on. 

That was a self-limiting belief. It’s bullsh*t. Unworthy of me. 

That was back in 2017. Been a long road back. 

At one point during my comeback, I could finally deadlift again and was pulling a measly 95 lbs. I was at peace with the fact that this might be the most I could ever lift again. Ever. 

Over the years, I suffered self-induced setbacks constantly. I’d make excellent progress in some areas of my life but then blow it up. 

One injury after another. 

It sucked. 

Thankfully, I synced up with a brilliant coach, my fellow Old Grad and Jedi Master, Bill Watkins. 

He taught me about self-limiting beliefs and how to identify, acknowledge, and move past them. 

Read a book called The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. A game-changer. 

I had created a self-fulfilling prophecy because of my self-limiting belief. I would persistently injure myself because I believed it was inevitable and inescapable. Worse, I believed I deserved it. 

I speak with dozens of Old Grads every month. It’s shocking how many of these impressive high achievers share similar beliefs. 

“I’m broken beyond repair.” 

As I dug deeper, I recognized that mine was an excuse to justify being stuck. 

“You see, because I’m broken and these injuries are inevitable, I need to content myself with where I’m at.” Submit, acquiesce, capitulate. 

I guess it’s a blessing, but God made me too stubborn to surrender, too dense to lay down my arms.

My “big leap” was identifying and acknowledging the beliefs that held me back and calling them out whenever I found myself clinging to them. 

Two months ago, I deadlifted more weight than I have since I was a cadet. I am stronger than I have been in 35 years. 

But to get that strong, I first needed to identify, acknowledge, and overcome my self-limiting belief. In doing so, I became stronger than my excuses. 

How about you? What self-limiting beliefs do you have? How are those showing up in your life?