You Are Capable Of Much More

In September last year, after ten years, our live-in helper gave us notice that she wanted to move on. She came to live with us when the twins were a month old, and they recently turned eleven. Initially, I panicked. How would I even begin looking for someone, train them, and get them to the same level. Just before Christmas, we said our goodbyes. There were a lot of tears because she was the only helper the children had known and she was part of our family. We started looking for a replacement. The first one worked for three months, and we all knew it wasn’t working out, so she left after three months. At that stage, I decided we would get someone coming a few days a week. This meant we would all need to do more chores around the house than we were doing in the past ten years. I wasn’t sure we would manage, but I was willing to try.

Researchers in neuroscience and physcology have found that most people operate well below their true capacity physically and mentally. And this is theme for this week. We are capable of much more than we know. This isn’t motivational talk. Science backs this up.

Eight months in, and we have all adjusted to doing most of our chores on our own. Our new helper comes in three times a week. The children have learnt to clean their own rooms and cook simpler meals. Initially, I didn’t see how we would manage. It’s not that it was not possible. It’s what I was telling myself about what we could all do.

In sports science, fatigue illusion refers to the assumptions, either devised consciously or mindlessly accepted, based on learned and blindly adopted information that limits individual potential. Your belief in your ability, not your actual ability, often determines whether you succeed or give up.

You have more in you, and you will never know until you are stretched. Interestingly, I have even started going to the gym, something I thought I didn’t have enough time for, even when we had consistent help in the house. I know now that this wasn’t true. It’s just what I thought to be true.

The mind is such a powerful thing. I wrote about my experiences at the gym last week. I was going easy on myself. My daughter was pushing me to do more, but I was scared of hurting myself. When I recognized the limitations I was putting on myself, it became easier to do something about it. I decided to listen to my daughter and push further. From twenty crunches to ninety and from thirty mountain climbers to a hundred. I am learning that I am capable of much more.

So, what are some of the things that you have convinced yourself you cannot do? Is it that you are not ready to go after that goal that you have been putting off for years now? Or that you don’t have enough time? Or that these things don’t apply to people like you?

I wanted to understand more about limiting beliefs, so I started doing some research. Limiting beliefs can come from early childhood conditioning, painful personal experiences that can hardwire a “never again” into the subconscious. It is a natural self-protection mechanism that wires us to avoid risk even when it could be beneficial. Over time, limiting beliefs are reinforced by selective evidence where you notice things that confirm your story and ignore what contradicts it.

I am so intrigued by this that I have been studying deeper on this topic. Here are some questions to ask yourself to identify if you are limiting yourself.

1. Start questioning your doubts and fears and try to understand their origins. Was it a comment from a parent, a teacher, a boss, a past failure, or something you saw growing up?

2. Look for evidence that disproves this belief. It is always there.

3. Ask yourself if you did not believe this about yourself, what would you do differently?

Of course, I checked the Bible on this and found several scriptures. Whilst the term limiting beliefs isn’t used , it does address the issue of mindset, faith, and thoughts that shape how we live and what we believe about ourselves and God’s plans for us.

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

This verse highlights that transformation happens when we actively change how we think, breaking free from limiting or worldly mindsets.

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Limiting beliefs often come wrapped in fear. This reminds us that fear doesn’t come from God and that we are empowered to overcome it.

Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

This speaks against any belief of being “not enough” or inadequate. Our worth is deeply rooted in how God made us.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This verse counters beliefs that limit hope or future possibilities, reminding us God’s intentions are for growth and blessing.

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This verse encourages believing in your ability to overcome obstacles and grow beyond your limitations through Christ.