We are what we believe we are, and we can do what we believe we can do. Yes, I know that sounds all touchy-feely and new age, but you don't have to be a metrosexual to climb onboard the belief bandwagon.

There is an interesting connection between our conscious mind and our subconscious. Our subconscious is tasked with the responsibility of making what we consciously believe is true, actually come true; at least to the best of our subconscious mind's ability to make it true.

So, if you think you can do something, you can. And, if you think you can't, you can't. It sounds simple, right? Well - it is simple, sort of.

Back up at the top of this article is a quote from motivational and self-help author Dr. Wayne Dyer. I picked the quote because it embodies the entire concept of overcoming self-limiting beliefs. Think about it. When you CHANGE the way you look at things, the things you look at CHANGE. Let's examine that statement.

Prior to that fateful day, on May 6th, 1954, everyone in the sports world believed it was impossible to run a mile in under 4 minutes. And because everyone believed it, it became true. But there was one athlete who didn't believe it. Roger Bannister believed that he COULD break the 4 minute mile. And, when he changed the way he looked at that barrier, the barrier changed. Even more amazing is that after Bannister crossed the 1 mile finish line in 3:59, nearly every professional runner had broken the 4 minute mile within the following year. Why? Because they believed it was possible once Bannister proved it to them.

But you don't need a Roger Bannister to overcome your own self-limiting beliefs. All you need to do is believe in yourself and the goals that you want to accomplish. Believe it or not, it's as simple as turning a "can't" into a "can" and then visualizing your success.

If you want something, start acting as if you already have it. This programs your subconscious to go about the task of making whatever it is actually come true. The best way to accomplish this is through the use of affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements that you speak out loud when you need encouragement. They are always formatted to accentuate the positive as if the desired results have already been achieved.

So, if you are being held back by the self-limiting belief that you'll never be successful, for example, you could start saying these affirmations:

"I deserve the success that has come into my life."

"Every day I achieve more and more success."

"It is my right to enjoy the success I am achieving".

If you repeat your affirmations several times in the morning, whenever you have spare time during the day, and again before you go to bed, you will be conditioning your self-conscious mind to start the process of making you successful by removing the mental barriers that are holding you back. Before you know it, your personal "4 minute mile" barrier, whatever that may be, will disappear.