Is Limitation Focused Thinking Holding You Back?

By Tamara Aw


I recently had a conversation with two very lovely women. Both are wonderful mothers, fiercely loyal friends and in possession of hearts of gold. They have hopes and dreams that far exceed their current situations and are both equipped with the knowledge and personalities to achieve their goals and then some. What holds these women back is the fact that they both allow their thoughts to focus on limitations.

For instance, during the conversation, dreams were shared and then immediately shot down by negative limitation focused comments. Phrases like "I can't even think about it until my mortgage is paid off." and "It takes money to make things happen." were spouted out before the dreams even had a chance to be explored. I made a few attempts to share stories of friends and acquaintances who have overcome odds that far outweigh what any of the three of us had ever endured. I even shared specific examples that were very similar to the situations of these two ladies, but finally opted to remain silent after realizing I was trying to force the horse to drink. That said, this message is specifically targeted to the parched and thirsty.

What if I told you that I personally know college drop outs, single mothers, former welfare recipients and many others who faced insurmountable odds that have achieved extremely impressive levels of success? Do you realize how many of America's greatest leaders, business professionals, althletes and entertainers struggled for years before they achieved their goals?

We look at these people swimming in abundance and tend to feel resentful, jealous or envious because they are living our dream lives. What we must do instead is triumph over the temptation to think and feel negative. We need to study successful people and copy their behaviors and habits. You want to stay broke and unfulfilled then do the things that the broke and unfilled do. You want to remain complacent with mediocrity then do the things that the mediocre do. But if you want to follow in the footsteps of the Bob Johnsons of the world then you need to get serious about doing the things that the very successful do.

After literally devoting a little over a year to studying very successful people, especially those who have overcome great odds, I noticed a few common traits. All I personally know and most I have read about have unwavering faith. They also accept the fact that life gets extremely rough at times. Additionally, they absolutely refuse to allow themselves to be defined by their circumstances and balk at the label of Victim. Instead of choosing to let the cards they have been dealt control their lives and limit their potential, they push through perceived limitations, change the rules and dare to be different.

Mr. Donahue Peebles, who I was recently blessed to meet said that "If the key doesn't fit, change the lock." That is how successful people think. They do not let the lack of anything, be it a degree or cash limit their lives in any way, shape or form. They go for it knowing that they are aiming to live their God given purpose and do not let anything or anyone stop them.

If you take a look at several of the people listed below, who make up the top ten on the Forbes list of wealthiest African Americans, you will notice that many of them entered this world with the deck stacked against them: Oprah Winfrey was born into extreme poverty, battled with her weight and suffered through years of abuse and molestation; Don Peebles was a black man born in one of DC's hoods to a single mother without access to much that most of us take for granted; Magic Johnson was diagnosed with an incurable and deadly disease. None of those mentioned allowed challenges to limit them. They all dug in their heels, pushed forward with faith fortified hearts then made it happen.

I ask you, if they can achieve great heights after having endured terrible situations similar to those of most, what is preventing you from doing the same?

FORBES TOP TEN RICHEST AFRICAN AMERICANS
1. Oprah Winfrey - Net worth of $2.7 billion,
2. Tiger Woods - Net worth $600 million
3. Robert Johnson – Founder of BET - Net worth $550 million (he took a hit during the recession)
4. Michael Jordan - $525 million
5. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. - $500 million
6. Bill Cosby - $450 million
7. Sheila Johnson – Robert Johnson’s ex-wife – Net worth $400 million
8. Don Peebles – Runs Peebles Corp. a real estate development company – Net worth $350 million
9. Berry Gordy - Founder, Motown Records - Net worth $350 million
10. Quintin Primo III – Founder of real estate financing company Capri Capital - Net worth $300 million

Best regards,
Tamara Aw

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