11 Psychological Traps That Limit The Potential Of Even The Most Brilliant People
How your thoughts hold you back from brilliance.
Kazi Mizan | Unsplash As human beings, we tend to be much harsher on ourselves and overly critical of our performance than we would be on any other person. When the negative dialogue we have with ourselves becomes paralyzing, it’s time to seek some support.
To get you started, I'm going to share with you fifteen small (but significant) ways you can help yourself out of a spiral that is limiting your true potential.
But first, let's identify a few psychological traps people fall into that lead to a paralyzing negative inner monologue and limited brilliance potential. If you relate, scroll down for some simple solutions.
Here are psychological traps that limit the potential of even the most brilliant people:
1. All-or-nothing thinking
Sounds like: “I misspoke in my talk today, and the whole presentation was a disaster.”
According to research published by the Japanese Psychological Association, this thinking has a significant negative impact on mental health, often contributing to heightened anxiety, depression, and perfectionism, by causing individuals to view situations in extreme, binary categories, leading to feelings of failure or inadequacy if they don't achieve complete success in any given situation.
2. Negative labels thinking
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Sounds like: “I messed up. I’m such a loser and screw-up!”
Negative labels can significantly impact thinking by creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, lowering self-esteem, limiting potential, and influencing how others perceive and interact with an individual. When internalized, they often lead to negative behaviors and decreased motivation.
3. 'Shoulding on yourself' thinking
Sounds like: “I should be doing better than I am.”
The tendency to put pressure on yourself by thinking you should be doing something or being a certain way can significantly negatively impact your thinking. It creates unrealistic expectations, leading to feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inadequacy and contributing to a sense of self-worth issues, particularly when these expectations are not met.
Psychologists often categorize shoulding as a cognitive distortion, meaning it is a distorted way of thinking that can lead to negative emotions and behaviors.
4. Catastrophizing
Sounds like: “What If I get this wrong and then I get fired, then I’ll be broke and homeless?”
Imagining the worst possible outcome in a situation and ruminating on it excessively has a significant negative impact on mental and physical health, particularly by exacerbating pain experiences, increasing anxiety levels, and hindering coping mechanisms, often leading to decreased quality of life.
2014 research showed a strong link between catastrophizing and conditions like chronic pain, depression, and anxiety disorders, where individuals with high levels of catastrophizing tend to report more significant distress and functional impairment.
5. Fortune-telling thinking
Sounds like: “I’m sure my colleagues thought my presentation was terrible as they were looking at their phones.”
Predicting negative future outcomes without solid evidence is considered a cognitive distortion that can significantly impact mental health. This often leads to increased anxiety and depression by creating unnecessary worry and limiting proactive behavior based on pessimistic predictions.
6. 'Glass is empty' thinking
Sounds like: Because I made a bad dessert the whole meal was ruined.”
This mindset is often associated with pessimism and can negatively impact mental well-being. It leads individuals to focus on the negative aspects of situations, potentially causing increased stress, lower resilience, and decreased motivation to pursue goals compared to those with a more optimistic glass-half-full perspective.
7. Two-faced thinking
Sounds like: “It is okay for others to make spelling mistakes but not okay for me.”
Duplicity, or presenting different faces to different people, is explored regarding its adverse impacts on social relationships, trust, and individual well-being. Studies often link it to motivations like fear of rejection, social pressure, and a desire for personal gain while examining the cognitive processes involved in managing such inconsistent behaviors.
8. Dramatized thinking
Sounds like: “Because I made a mistake at work, I am a failure as a human being.”
Dramatized thinking, which involves exaggerating situations' emotional intensity or significance, can negatively impact mental well-being. It often leads to increased anxiety, stress, and interpersonal conflict. However, a 2021 study published in Thinking Skills and Creativity explained that dramatic thinking can also serve as a coping mechanism depending on the individual and context.
9. Emotional thinking
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Sounds like: “I feel super anxious; therefore, I know I am going to give a bad talk.”
Emotional thinking significantly impacts various cognitive functions, including perception, attention, memory, decision-making, and reasoning. It often influences how we interpret and prioritize information based on our current emotional state. Positive emotions generally enhance cognitive performance, while negative emotions can impair it.
10. Martyr thinking
Sounds like: “If my work team does not win the bid, it is entirely my fault.”
A martyr complex indicates that it can significantly impact mental health by leading to burnout, resentment, depression, and anxiety, primarily due to the continuous sacrifice of one's own needs to please others. 2015 research recommended that learning to set healthy boundaries and prioritize personal needs is a key therapy component.
11. Crystal ball thinking
Sounds like: “I just know I am going to give a bad presentation.”
Crystal ball thinking refers to the cognitive distortion of assuming you can accurately predict the future, often with adverse outcomes, leading to unnecessary anxiety and decision-making based on these predictions rather than reality. Research shows this can significantly impact behavior by causing avoidance and limiting opportunities due to fear of the unknown.
Perfectionism can be a challenging obstacle to overcome, but it is not insurmountable. You can take meaningful steps toward becoming flawless as you break free from the suffocating grip of it in all areas of your life!
Perfection is an unattainable illusion, but self-acceptance and personal growth are achievable goals that lead to a more satisfying and fulfilling life.
Michele Molitor, CPCC, CHt, is a certified coach, hypnotherapist, and co-author of the book I Am Perfectly Flawsome - How Embracing Imperfection Makes Us Better. She coaches high-achieving professionals in reducing their overwhelm and reclaiming their self-confidence, calm, and clarity to create a thriving life and career.