Chapter 1: The Day of Reckoning

It was a lovely day in May, yet I found myself trapped in a classroom taking a math final. I had dedicated six months to studying, while most of my peers had invested three years.

As I observed the examiners distributing the question sheets, a wave of anxiety washed over me. The exam consisted of four problems, and I started with the first, progressing through to the fourth. When I attempted the fourth problem, I remembered a less common method we had previously learned in class. To my astonishment, this approach made the problem incredibly straightforward.

"This can't be right," I thought. Surely, I had made an error. I was convinced that a simpler solution was impossible. So, I dismissed my earlier method and erased everything I had worked on up to that moment. I felt there had to be another, more acceptable way to arrive at the answer.

With each alternative method I tried, my anxiety mounted. "I should have put in more effort," I berated myself. "Why can't I solve this? Is it really that challenging? Am I a failure?"

As time slipped away, I was forced to submit my exam, feeling utterly defeated. "This is what you get for only studying for six months instead of three years," I chastised myself.

Before heading home to wallow in self-pity, I decided to seek out my classmates to learn about their approaches to the exam. To my dismay, they had also arrived at the same solution using the very first method I had discarded. It turned out that not only was my method correct, but it was also the quickest path to the answer.

I couldn't fathom it… that night, I cried myself to sleep, but for an entirely different reason.

The greatest hurdle we encounter in learning new skills is our own limiting beliefs. Despite months of dedication, I lacked faith in my abilities. The thought of my solution being correct never crossed my mind, largely due to a collection of negative beliefs I had internalized: I wasn’t good at math, I hadn’t studied enough, everyone else was more capable, and I was already too far behind.

We often jump to harsh judgments about ourselves. When faced with obstacles, it's easy to assume that the skill in question simply isn't meant for us. I once believed I was alone in this struggle, but as a language and learning coach, I've heard a myriad of limiting beliefs from others.

It's unfortunate because I can see the potential in them—just as I failed to recognize my own potential until years later. Today, I'm proud to say that I not only understand math but also enjoy it, along with every other skill I've acquired since then.

It's unjust how we restrict ourselves with our thoughts, cutting off possibilities before we've even begun our journey. However, we have the power to replace these limiting beliefs with affirmations that enhance our learning and help us uncover our true capabilities, just as I have.

Let’s explore some common limiting beliefs and how to transform them into something more constructive.

Chapter 2: Embracing the Learning Process