For years, I carried limiting beliefs without even knowing it. They shaped my relationships, my career, my self-worth, and even my health. It was like walking through life with invisible chains holding me back, wondering why I kept repeating the same patterns, facing the same obstacles, and feeling exhausted by it all.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck, repeating cycles in your career, relationships, or even with yourself — know that you are not alone. Many of us, especially women in our 30s, reach a point where we ask: Is this it? Why does this feel so hard? What am I missing?
This is the story of how I shifted from self-doubt and overthinking to owning my personal power, and how you can do the same.
1. Understanding Limiting Beliefs
First, let’s get clear on what limiting beliefs actually are. Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained thoughts or assumptions that hold you back from achieving what you truly want in life. They’re usually unconscious and can sound like:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “I’m too old to start over.”
- “People like me don’t succeed at that.”
- “If I fail, it means I’m not worthy.”
For a long time, I didn’t even realise I was operating from these thoughts. I thought I was being “realistic,” when in fact, I was letting fear and past experiences dictate my future.
These beliefs were shaped by:
- Childhood dynamics (growing up with a single mum)
- Cultural conditioning (being raised in Serbia and later moving to the UK)
- Past failures or toxic relationships
- Societal pressures on women — to “have it all” by a certain age
Until I started questioning the stories I was telling myself, I kept recreating the same struggles in new forms — whether it was in relationships, finances, or work.
2. The Power of Self-Awareness
Everything started shifting when I became aware of the stories I was carrying. This awareness was uncomfortable at first. But I learned that discomfort is the first sign of growth. I started asking myself:
- “Is this belief actually true?”/Think of examples when it wasn’t
- “Where did I learn this?”/What conditioned this thought/Where does it come from?
- “What am I afraid will happen if I let go of this thought?”/Am I acting out of fear?
For example, I used to tell myself, “Someone with my background can’t have it all,” or “No one will pay me for doing something I love.” These thoughts weren’t truths — they were just borrowed beliefs.
By bringing these thoughts to the surface, I could finally choose whether I wanted to keep them or not.
3. Tools That Helped Me Break Free
Breaking free from limiting beliefs didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual process of unlearning and relearning. Here are some of the most powerful tools I used on my journey:
Inner Work and Self-Enquiry
I started practising self-enquiry, asking questions like, “Whose voice is this — mine, or someone else’s?” Journaling became a daily ritual where I could untangle the mess of thoughts in my head.
Through this process, I discovered that many of my beliefs weren’t actually mine — they were inherited from family, teachers, culture, or past partners.
Therapy and Coaching
Working with both a therapist and a coach accelerated my growth massively. Therapy helped me process old emotions and family patterns, while coaching focused on building new, empowering narratives. It wasn’t always comfortable, but the breakthroughs I experienced were life-changing.
Daily Habits and Embodiment
It wasn’t just about thinking differently — I needed to feel and act differently, too. This is where embodiment practices came in:
- Morning affirmations (link to podcast)
- Journaling
- Evening gratitude episodes (link)
One of the biggest shifts for me was learning to regulate my nervous system and taking a break when needed — because you can’t think clearly or confidently if your body is stuck in stress mode. In addition, setting boundaries in everyday life, communicating personal needs, and prioritising self-care are equally important.
Feminine Energy Practices
As a woman, I also leaned into practices that connected me to my feminine energy — things like sensual movement (with heel dance class), learning to receive graciously, tuning into my intuition and even simple acts like dressing in ways that made me feel radiant. This was about reconnecting with my natural flow, instead of always forcing or “pushing through.”
Mindset Shifts Around Money
Money was another area where my limiting beliefs showed up. I grew up with the belief that money was hard to earn, that saving was stressful, and that investing was only for wealthy people. It wasn’t until I actively started educating myself about finances, using tools like Revolut and Female Invest, that I realised — I can build wealth in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.
If you’re curious, I share more about this in my blog post: How I Started Managing My Money as a Woman in My 30s.
4. Learning to Trust Myself
One of the hardest — yet most rewarding — parts of this journey was learning to trust myself again.
We’re often taught to look outside for answers — to experts, family, society — but true personal power comes from within.
- I started listening to my gut feelings.
- I stopped overriding my intuition just to please others. (useful book, Not Nice)
- I practised making small, aligned decisions and built trust in myself gradually.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up for yourself consistently, even when you don’t feel fully ready yet.
5. How My Life Has Changed
So, what’s actually changed since I did this inner work?
✨ I stopped tolerating one-sided relationships.
✨ I learned how to communicate my needs with confidence and softness.
✨ I started my own business after years of doubting if I could.
✨ I let go of friendships that no longer aligned with my growth.
✨ I learned that discomfort doesn’t mean danger — it usually means expansion.
More importantly, I now feel at home in myself. That’s what real personal power is. I seek relationships and people that will add to that peace not take away from it. This is why I believe it’s important to give ourselves enough time (usually 2-3 months) after meeting someone, to decide whether we want to enter a committed relationship with them.
6. How You Can Start
If any of this resonates with you, here’s the beautiful part: you don’t have to change everything overnight. You just need to start somewhere.
Here’s how you can start transforming your mindset today:
- Start journaling: Write down recurring thoughts and ask: “Is this true?”
- Notice patterns: What situations trigger self-doubt the most?
- Seek support: Therapy, coaching, or even supportive friends can help.
- Focus on small wins: Confidence is built through action, not just thinking.
- Learn about embodiment: Mindset shifts stick better when your body feels safe, too.
Tip: Great book for journal prompts and self-confidence: You Dream Life Starts Here. You can listen to it as an audiobook as well, on Audible.
Final Thoughts
You deserve to feel free, empowered, and fully expressed in your life. Limiting beliefs might have been part of your story, but they don’t have to be the end of it.
If you want to dive deeper into this kind of inner work, or you’re curious about the womens only retreats, courses, and resources I’m creating around personal growth and feminine energy — stay tuned. This is just the beginning. Remember: your life doesn’t change by accident. It changes when you choose to believe that it’s possible.
