Transition points like these can lead us to where we want to be. Where we NEED to be. We know they are necessary / good to reach our goals… and when we take those first steps, it might start to feel exciting. Heck, it might even start to feel GOOD!

I’m doing the thing! This is so awesome. I can’t believe I took this opportunity.

Then you hit a wall.

And “upper limiting” sets in HARD.

Upper Limiting is the idea that we can only have so much “good” in our lives: that success is limited, and that if we want to stay safe, we need to stay put… or we need to bring ourselves back down into a place where we don’t feel as good.

Here’s the “classic” example of upper limiting: Someone wins a huge lottery. All of their problems are now “solved.” Instead of thinking about long-term happiness, they spend the money lavishly (and quickly), often making decisions that lead them into fights with family, friends, and loved ones. (And even the law.) Within a year of winning the lottery, they find themselves worse off than they were before then won. 

News stories tell us this is a common occurrence. Why? Because upper limiting tells us that we don’t deserve to be happy or content for long periods of time. It tells us that success with and abundance of time, money, and love is finite. 

Most of us don’t have such extreme examples of upper limiting in our lives. What we experience with upper limiting might be much more subtle. It could be: 

… Holding onto a client who isn’t a good fit. 
… Avoidance of tracking studio expenses. 
… Not regularly raising tuition. 
… Staying in a job that makes you feel bad.
… Continuing with habits that don’t serve us well. 

Upper limiting can be sneaky. 

I’ve been doing a LOT of reading about upper limiting lately. For my clients, sure… but honestly? For myself. Because the big plans I’m working through right now = upper limiting monsters rearing their heads and casting scary shadows on the wall all Scooby Doo style. 

In this broadcast, I talk about what upper limiting looks like and how to recognize it. Because once we know what casts those scary shadows?

We can cast a little light and make them disappear.

Show Notes from the Broadcast

1. What it is: Upper limiting tells us that we have a limited capacity for good in our lives. We are only allowed so much success, abundance, money, love, enjoyment… etc. Think of it as an “inner thermostat” that controls how happy or content you’re allowed to be. When we reach the upper limit, a little warning signal goes off. That signal tells us “you don’t deserve any more happiness” and self-sabotage starts to occur.
2. How it shows up: It can take on so many forms: worry, guilt, arguments… it can even manifest physically. Here’s the tricky part: upper limiting doesn’t turn on a big flashing sign that says “It’s time to self-sabotage.” It shows up subtly, as habits that are ingrained into how we view ourselves, others, and the world around us.
3. What we can do about it: The first thing to do is to start recognizing habits and patterns. This could be as simple as keeping a daily record of your mood, or perhaps a small journal. When you find yourself feeling worried or anxious after making a business decision, take time to examine that feeling. Ask yourself where it’s coming from. Is it really about ___ or is this a form of upper limiting? 

Resources Mentioned

In the broadcast, I mentioned two additional resources about upper limiting. One is a short article by Arabelle Lee and the other is a book called The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. I hope you enjoy them. 

If you found this helpful, I’d love to know. Comment below with your thoughts or feel free to drop me an email. 

Catch more business, mindset, and awesometicity tips here on the coaching page every Wednesday at 12pm ET.