How to Let Go of Old Beliefs & Build the Life You Want
Every young adult reaches a moment where life feels confusing. You’re growing, learning, failing, discovering yourself, but sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the world around you. It’s the story you keep telling yourself.
Many of us walk through life holding onto beliefs we didn’t choose. Ideas we absorbed from childhood, school, relationships, or society. Beliefs like:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I always mess things up.”
“People like me don’t succeed.”
“My dreams are unrealistic.”
These beliefs feel true because you’ve repeated them for so long. But here’s the truth: you can rewrite them, just like you can rewrite a story.
Where Limiting Beliefs Come From
Limiting beliefs usually start from:
- A painful memory you never processed
- Something someone said that you accepted as truth
- A single failure you turned into a pattern
- Fear of rejection, disappointment, or change
When these thoughts repeat, they subtly shape your choices, relationships, and confidence.
Writing as a Tool for Rewriting Your Mind
Writing is powerful because it slows your thoughts down long enough for you to see them clearly. When you write something on paper, you separate yourself from it and you realise this is a thought, not a fact.
Here are simple steps to start rewriting your inner story:
1. Write down the belief that’s holding you back.
Example: “I’m not good enough.”
2. Ask yourself: Where did this thought come from?”
Maybe a parent, a breakup, a failure, or childhood pressure.
3. Challenge it.
Is it always true? Has your life ever shown you the opposite?
4. Rewrite it into something empowering.
“I am learning, growing, and becoming better every day.”
5. Practice it daily.
Your brain rewires through repetition. Your new belief becomes stronger than the old one. Affirm yourself every morning in front of a mirror, or every night before bed. It will only be a matter of time before you become what you believe.
Why This Matters for Your Purpose
Your purpose isn’t found in one big moment. It’s built through the small choices you make every day. And those choices are shaped by what you believe about yourself.
When you rewrite your inner beliefs, you create space for:
- Confidence
- New opportunities
- Healthy relationships
- Creative expression
- Dreams you never thought to be possible
You become the author of your life, not just a character in someone else’s story.
In Atomic Habits, the chapter on identity-based habits emphasizes that true, lasting change comes from focusing on the type of person you want to become, not just the outcomes you want to achieve.
This article in in collaboration with Gunchohavanna, a Kenyan brand of creatives united by an infinite passion for art, storytelling, and self-expression.