How to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs as a RD
When you’re working any job, your mindset matters. It’s the classic: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right,” mentality. Basically, your positive or negative outlook will have a direct impact on your success in any line of work . . . however, if you work in healthcare, this takes on a whole new meaning. Working in a field where the service you offer can actually change someone’s life and health is an IMMENSE responsibility. Plus, despite the extensive training and qualification process of professionals like us Registered Dietitians, we’re often undervalued both by our colleagues and by our own clients. All in all, it can be difficult to develop and maintain a positive mindset in the field of nutrition.
The truth is, being a Registered Dietitian is HARD. Is it rewarding? Of course! But, because of the day-to-day challenges, it can be easy to develop self-limiting beliefs. A restrictive mindset can prevent you from reaching your potential, earning what you're worth, finding work-life balance, and really loving what you do. Everyone deserves to be happy in their dream job, especially RDs who do SO MUCH for public health and the surrounding community. So, it’s time to overcome that negative point of view and find that optimistic and enthusiastic outlook that’ll help you achieve all your goals!
How to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs as a RD
When we think about things that hold us back as RDs, some things that come to mind are: lack of training, few job opportunities, low pay, burnout, etc. However, the thing that’s often really standing in our way are our own self-limiting beliefs. We put ourselves in a box, undervalue our impact, and surrender to our current position and mental state. But, if you really want to turn your RD dreams into a reality, we need to throw out the negative thought processes and adopt a healthier mindset!
What Are Self-Limiting Beliefs?
A self-limiting belief is a negative outlook or perspective that prevents you from fully realizing your capabilities—whether that’s professionally or personally. The mental barriers we create by adopting these restrictive beliefs can have a HUGE impact on our development and hold us back from our true potential.
These beliefs come from all sorts of places. They can come from past failures, societal pressures, bad work environments, broken relationships, perfectionism, and more. To overcome these, you’ve got to prove to yourself that they’re invalid and start rebuilding your confidence! Easier said than done, right? With the strategies below, we can make it happen!
How To Identify Self-Limiting Beliefs as a RD
To identify self-limiting beliefs, you need to do a lot of reflecting. Identify ways you see yourself as a RD that are naturally negative and unfounded by objective facts. If you often get positive feedback from clients and colleagues, but you still feel you don’t make an impact or aren’t good at your job, you probably have self-limiting beliefs. Additionally, if you struggle to set ambitious goals or apply yourself to improving your skills because you believe failure is inevitable . . . you have self-limiting beliefs! Do some soul-searching and reflect on your mindset to find this deep-seeded negative self talk.
Common Limiting Beliefs as a RD
I need more education
I can’t be successful because I wasn’t taught business tactics/marketing.
Failure is inevitable for me.
I'm not experienced enough to be considered an expert.
Clients won't trust my advice or respect me.
My services aren’t worth premium pricing.
I'm not tech-savvy enough to establish an online presence.
I'll never be able to balance work and personal life.
I can't compete with other dietitians in my area.
I'm too introverted to network successfully.
My opinions won't be taken seriously.
I'm not qualified to handle complex cases.
I can't make a significant impact in my field.
My client base will always be small.
I'm not good at marketing myself.
I'm not confident enough to run my own practice.
My services won't be valued by others.
I'm not capable of managing my own business.
I'll never be able to keep up with industry changes.
My work won't be recognized or appreciated.
I'm not assertive enough to advocate for myself.
My expertise and passion will never bring me financial prosperity.
I can't balance multiple clients and administrative tasks.
I won’t be able to keep my clients motivated and engaged.
I'm not confident enough to challenge misinformation.
I'll never be as successful as my peers.
I'm not adaptable enough to deal with unexpected challenges.
How To Change Self-Limiting Beliefs as a RD
Identify false narratives.
As I mentioned, the first thing you need to do is identify your self-limiting beliefs! Make a list of all the false narratives swirling around your head—the ones keeping you from believing in yourself and achieving your true potential.
Practice positive affirmations and gratitude.
Did you know that when we constantly think bad thoughts, our brains actually develop negative grooves in our neural pathways? Think of it like worn down paths in a road: your vehicle naturally drives within those ruts, right? Well, research has actually shown chronically focusing on dark thoughts will have your brain habitually thinking in the negative. This is where our self-limiting beliefs can really take hold of our lives!
But, don’t worry, you can retrain your brain to instead develop positive grooves! Then, those habits of thinking in terms of what you “can’t do” will change to habits of considering all you can achieve! One of the best ways to retrain your brain and squash those self-limiting beliefs is to practice daily affirmations and gratitude! Remind yourself constantly of how VALUABLE you are and change the way you think!
Need some help getting started with affirmations? Here are affirmations for RD entrepreneurs and affirmations for female leaders!
Set realistic goals and keep learning.
Push yourself to set goals. It can be hard when you’re struggling with self-confidence to drive yourself to the next stage of your career. You may not believe you can do it! However, the best way to challenge those self-limiting beliefs is to set those goals and accomplish them. Through this goal crushing process, you’ll learn a lot and invest more in your education and training as an RD, which should also have an effect on your confidence and self-worth!
Seek feedback from colleagues and clients.
Want to know the truth? Sometimes our own head isn’t the most reliable place to get facts about who we are and what we can do. Instead, ask for feedback from clients and colleagues regularly! Of course, they’ll have constructive criticism, but you’re used to taking that kind of feedback and rolling with it. (After all, you’re your own worst critic.)
However, they’ll also have TONS of great things to say about you, your skills, and your impact. THIS is the part you need to hear! Having these positive facts about yourself communicated regularly will help you learn and finally believe what’s true: YOU ARE INCREDIBLE. You can disprove those self-limiting beliefs using the truth you learn about yourself through your clients and colleagues.
Celebrate all your success.
When we mess something up, we dwell on it. It’s our nature at times! However, when something goes well, we don’t sit with that victory long enough. Because of this, we remember way more bad than good. To keep your mindset more positive, celebrate big each time you achieve a goal or succeed at something—even if it’s small! These victories will become more memorable and hopefully help squash those negative thought patterns!
Journal daily.
I recommend journaling daily as an RD. It’s great for self-care, because it allows you to reflect on your past experiences and sort through what’s true and what’s not. It’ll help you identify when you’re developing a negative belief, and it’ll also help you overcome that belief, because you’ll be able to go back and review past accomplishments and victories! This way, you won’t forget how amazing you are and you can tackle self-limiting thoughts right when they pop up. No more letting those grow and dictate your life and career.
Make it a point to challenge limiting beliefs.
Sometimes, we’re not sure if a negative belief is something true or false. Hopefully, some of the other tips on this list will help you get an accurate read on those questionable thoughts, but if you’re still unsure, challenge those beliefs! If you tell yourself you’re bad at public speaking or you’re not assertive enough, push yourself to prove those things are untrue. Blow yourself away with a great presentation or by standing up for yourself at work—it’ll do wonders for your confidence and outlook!
Practice self-compassion.
At the end of the day, we’re not perfect. We do have weaknesses that may challenge our path to success. It’s so important that you remember that this is normal and everyone has flaws to overcome. Practice being patient with yourself as you learn and give yourself grace when it comes to your weaknesses. And, most of all, don’t let any of your challenges prevent you from accomplishing your goals. You deserve to realize your dreams!
Consider finding a mentor or hiring a coach.
One of the best things you can do as an RD is have someone in your corner that can support you and push you to your goals. You need someone that can speak life over you, encourage you, and make you feel like you can do anything!
A mentor is a good option, but a dietitian business coach is the BEST choice for an RD. Not only can we help you grow personally, but we have the expertise to help you be confident in every business decision! A dietitian business coach like me can give you specialized and personalized advice to take your private practice to the next level. As your career grows exponentially, it’ll be impossible to feel like anything limits your potential!
Overcome self-limiting beliefs by investing in yourself personally and professionally.
To realize your true potential as an RD, one of the best things you can do is open your own nutrition business. Having your own private practice will allow you to bring passion to work every day, helping the people you want in the way you want to do it! You can finally step out of those hamster wheel RD positions where you’re burned out, feeling underappreciated, underpaid, and overworked.
It’s time instead to invest in yourself and boost your CONFIDENCE and IMPACT by starting your own private practice and applying to work with me as your dietitian business coach. Together, we’ll conquer those self-limiting beliefs and realize your dreams as an RD!