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Mar 2025
36m 24s

How These Common Limiting Beliefs Are Fu...

Grace Stevens
About this episode

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In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the science behind limiting beliefs and how they specifically show up in education and the lives of passionate teachers. Learn practical strategies to identify, challenge, and transform the unhelpful stories you tell yourself about teaching that keep you stuck in burnout cycles.


Key Points

  • 🔍 Limiting beliefs are thoughts that restrict our potential and happiness
  • 🧠 Our brains are pattern-seeking devices that filter information based on our beliefs
  • ⚠️ We should evaluate beliefs on whether they're resourceful, not whether they're "true"
  • 💡 With awareness comes choice - we can reframe unhelpful beliefs
  • 🔄 Your brain will find evidence to confirm what you already believe (confirmation bias)


Common Teacher Limiting Beliefs

  1. "I have to do it all to be a good teacher" → "I am most effective when I focus on what I do well"
  2. "Saying no makes me selfish or unhelpful" → "Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect"
  3. "If I rest, I'm lazy" → "Rest fuels my ability to show up as my best for students"
  4. "If students/parents aren't happy, I'm failing" → "I can do my best, but I can't control others' feelings"
  5. "It's my responsibility to fix everything" → "I can provide guidance and support, but I can't fix everything"


3-Step Process to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

  1. Identify the limiting belief when it appears
  2. Challenge it by seeking contrary evidence
  3. Replace it with a more empowering belief


Quote to Remember

"We see the world not as it is, but as we are. Most of us see through the eyes of our fears, our limiting beliefs, and our false assumptions." - Robin Sharma

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance


📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

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