Prepare for a raw, honest conversation that might just unlock your greatest potential. In this deeply personal episode with April Shprintz, you’ll hear a powerful story about a limiting belief that held her back for years, causing her to miss out on cherished life experiences. While her struggle was with body image, the core message applies to anyone battling a blind spot or negative self-perception. Discover why confronting these inner barriers is crucial for living a full, joyful life and how you can start seeing yourself for the incredible person you already are.
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This Mindset Almost Ruined My Life
I am so glad you’re here. I got a dramatic title for this episode: The Mindset That Almost Ruined My Life. I have to tell you, I don’t care who you are, how much you work on your mindset, how good you are at taking care of yourself, personal growth, or making things happen. We all have that thing that is a blind spot in our lives, that is a limiting belief that is holding us back. For me, for many years, it was about the way that I looked. That might sound shallow. Why are we going to do a mindset episode about this? Number one, way more people suffer from body dysmorphia or thinking negative things about the way they appear or the way they sound than most of us realize.
Number two, if you don’t have this, I guarantee you there’s another area of your life where you have a limiting belief similar to this that is holding you back. I’m going to share mine. Even though this is probably the most vulnerable share I have ever done on this show. I’m looking at a photo right now that is going to become the image that you see with the show. On the left is a picture of me at 17 years old in a bikini, and on the right is a picture of me at 37 years old in a bikini. Neither one of these photos has ever seen the light of day.
The Pervasive Impact Of Limiting Beliefs On Life Experience
The reason they never saw the light of day is that I was so convinced that I looked so terrible, no one would ever want to see me in a bathing suit. I was so convinced of it that I missed out on so many things in my life. There are so many times when I didn’t do the things that I wanted to do, go to the places that I wanted to go, and wear the things I wanted to wear because I was so afraid that I was going to be judged or found less than or offend people with my being. Because of that, I held myself away from some of the things that I loved the very most. I felt like I had to earn the right to go to the beach ever.
You are so much more than your limiting beliefs—more than the things you allow to hold you back. Share on XI felt like I had to earn the right to go to a pool. I always felt awkward in social situations where there was a certain dress required because I was convinced that I was too fat, I was too this, or I was too that. I show you those pictures because I’m looking at them now. I’m literally looking at them as I record this for you, and there was nothing wrong with me. There was no reason to hold myself back from the things I wanted to do most.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs To Live A Fuller Life
Sports Illustrated might not have been calling me at 17 or 37, but there was nothing other than what I was thinking, my limiting belief that should have held me back from doing the things I enjoyed. I can think of vacations I canceled with my girlfriends because I was afraid to go and wear a bathing suit around them. I was ashamed of the way that I looked. I can think of so many scenarios and situations where I allowed misgivings and limiting beliefs, and things that simply weren’t true to let me miss out on living my life, and I don’t want that for you.
If you’re someone who suffers from this, whether it’s about the way you look or it’s something that you want to do. Maybe it’s a sport or a career. Maybe you want to learn how to sing, start painting or drawing, or whatever it is. Find someone who loves you and whom you trust and ask them to tell you the truth. I don’t want you to ruin your life by missing out on life because you don’t understand that you are so much more than your limiting beliefs.
You are so much more than these things that you allow to hold you back. You’re tuning in to this show because you want to be the best version of yourself. What if you’re already a far better version of yourself than you ever realize? The thing is this. Your unpaid assistant. Your unconscious mind is going to point out to you more of what you focus on.
What if you focused on the fact that you are already what you want to be, that you have the ability to learn the skill that you want, and that you wouldn’t have a desire for it if it wasn’t possible for you? How would your life change then? How many years can you save yourself and enjoy by realizing that now? I want that for you. I don’t want you to ever have a mindset that takes any time or any happiness away from you, because there is so much out there for you today and every day. Here’s to your success.
