We live in a world of constant updates and achievements, creating a whirlwind of comparison. To keep up, we either fight our limitations or outright deny them.

The truth is that no matter how earnestly we develop ourselves, someone will always be more talented or successful than us. The more we struggle with the reality of our weaknesses, the greater control they will have over our lives.

However, the sooner you accept your limitations, the faster you empower yourself to use them to achieve the unique success only you can achieve.

Limitations are what you make of them.

Throughout history, countless people have succeeded despite their limitations to create unusual career paths, overcome learning and physical disabilities, make breakthroughs in scientific discoveries, challenge prejudice and redefine what’s possible in every area of society.

What’s their secret? They didn’t let their limitations define who they were and what they could achieve. Instead, they made friends with their weaknesses to use them constructively.

Your life. Your choice.

An old saying applies here: What you resist will persist. The misconception that accepting limitations gives them power drives you to reject who you are or where you came from. No good can come from that.

When you admit where your weaknesses lie, you immediately begin to break the psychological hold these limitations have over you. You open the door to possibility and nurture belief in your unique potential.

This step is a brave one forward which will require you to be open and resilient in ways you may not have considered before.

You don’t have to do it. You can continue to fight or deny limitations in your abilities, skills and character. Or you can open the door and see where your courage and belief can take you.

Action→Accept your limitations.

Growing more confident and uncovering more opportunities involves a mindset shift about your limitations. Answer these questions about an area you could be stronger in and see what changes.

• How does this limitation hold me back in my daily work and life?
•  How could this limitation be a unique resource of strength, wisdom or creativity?
•  If I could see this limitation as a resource rather than a limit, what different choices would I make?

How this looks in practice.

As an advertising salesperson in the yachting magazine industry, my job was to network at numerous boat shows. Being an introvert, I never could keep pace with the other sales professionals who would thrive on meeting people and entertaining clients from morning until night for days on end.

At the time, I considered my introversion a limitation from a sales and marketing perspective. I dreaded working the boat shows. They seemed less productive for me than everyone else until I got creative and found a way to use introversion to my advantage.

Instead of “making the rounds” daily, connecting with dozens of clients for superficial conversations that had minimal impact, I focused on creating opportunities for purposeful dialogue with a short list of two or three.

I had to fight the urge to keep up with the extroverts and stay my course. I never became a rockstar salesperson but did get promoted to leadership because of my relationship-building skills and authentic interest in people.

Take a shot at thinking about your limitations differently. Let me know 👇how your confidence and opportunities soar.

Until next week, take care.

Jo-Aynne Von Born, Leadership and Executive Coach