Why do we have to limit ourselves so much in life?

Question

Why do we do that? Is it because of what we were taught as children?

Answer 1

We don't have to limit ourseleves. It is in the matters of both the will of life and ours, Its about the choices we make and the paths fate takes us on.  People limit themselves not only on their enviroment and expeirennces but on how they see themselves and view life.  

Answer 2

because if there were no limits, there would be anarchy.  

Answer 3

Great question.  I'm a teacher at a residential treatment center for at-risk adolescents, and I just finished a week's worth of "self-esteem" lessons.  If you don't mind, the following points answer your question.

Self-esteem is your opinion of yourself; thus everyone has self-esteem.  People's self-esteem runs the gamut from those with a very negative self-esteem (in others words, a very negative opinion of themselves) to those with a very positive self-esteem (a positive opinion of themselves).  People's life experiences, from the time we are born, shape our self-esteem.  We often limit ourselves because of the negative experiences we have had.  

I shared the following, written by Marianne Williamson (but often incorrectly attributed to Nelson Mandela).  I told my students that if they were uncomfortable with the word "God" in the message they could replaced it with Great Spirit, Creator, Goddess, etc.  Here it is, I hope it resonates with all who read it, and as you meditate upon these words of wisdom, perhaps you won't be apt to "limit" yourself in the future.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,

but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness,that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give

other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,

our presence automatically liberates others."

Answer 4

Yes, and also for safety. Just like our parents telling us not to swim too far out. You could also call it the "fear of failure" if the limiting is overdone.

Answer 5

Every possible you that could in any way shape or form exist is floating in the ether waiting for it's chance. The YOU that allows the most other things to exist with you gets to ACTUALLY exist. All those dream versions remain untapped possibilities. The limited nature of our existence is all that makes us possible. Without limitations we would be ghosts in the ether too. So why do we have to limit ourselves so much in life? Because that is why we even exist!

And Yahoo said:

"Did you leave the Caps Lock key on? Using all caps can be perceived as shouting.."

"Oops! It looks like you have 1 misspelling(s)."

"Hmm...it looks like you have a lot of punctuation."

"Oops! It looks like you have 2 misspelling(s)."

Answer 6

Some of it is preferences and choices and some is what we desire for ourselves.  I don't want to experience the landing from falling from a 1,000 foot cliff so I don't take the plunge.

Answer 7

In order to feed a monster called morality...

Answer 8

It is simply because, if you have too much of something, it will be bad for you.

Like for example, If you have a fruit with too much citrus, like an orange, and you keep eating it, your toung hurts after a while, same thing with ketchup. Same with friends too. If you hang out too much with them, you'll get tired of 'em.

Answer 9

Well, that and our own personal fears. These questions come to mind when we attempt something out of the norm or worry about what others will think of us.

Does it really work? Will it work? Why should I even try?

What will my neighbors think? What if someone sees?

What will be the end result? Should I really be doing this?

What if I am wrong? What if they are right?

Can I not have the same abilities as my friends? There has go to be more to it than this?!

We second guess ourselves constantly and worry more about being politically correct and more involved with ourselves and our success rather than others. When we let go of that "worry" we no longer limit ourselves as well as limit others. Being accepting and encouraging of others we, in turn, do it to ourselves. Just as our beliefs and crafts we practice, we continue second guessing ourselves and questioning when we need not to question but accept and do. Our past teachings in our childhood were only the precurser for our self limitations now. We were groomed to be socially accepted as well as conform to the community and beliefs of others. To be as "one" with the majority rather than individuals with individuals and to agree to disagree.

Think of it this way, if someone is mad at the local government for not doing it's job of taking care of a road that that one person only drives on but that person is of a majority such as of a religion or large club that many of the same town are part of, the group will slowly follow behind because this person is head of that religion or head of that club. To be accepted by the majority, even though you are not part of either group but your family member is, you follow along because they are your friends, those of the same ideals. Even though this road you will never drive on or see, you follow blindly. Why? Mostly for acceptance and the sense of " the tribe" scenario. If you refused to follow and looked at as "Why am I upset over something that doesn't include me or mine and that which I will never be a part of? Then you have not limited yourself but attempted to analyze the situation and walked away. Our choices in our lives, as adults, is what limits us. If we decide to BE the tribe, rather than FOLLOW the tribe, then we do not limit ourselves. We accept others into this "tribe" but let them lead their lives within it's circle. When we allow others to tell us or ridicule us about how we live within the tribe and stop doing what pleases us, then we have limited us. The old social stigmas as well as our new stigmas of the world of "acceptance" is what limits you. Let go of them.

I have never tried to appease anyone. I have been told I have no tact and I am proud of that. You ask a question and I will give it to you straight. It may hurt your feelings or make you have more questions, but in the end a neither limited myself and freed you of your limitations.

Blessings Crone  

Answer 10

There are limits? Why didn't I get that memo? Why am I always the last to find these things out?

Brightest Blessings,

Raji the Green Witch