Did You Know an 8-Year-Old Rules the World?

Did You Know an 8-Year-Old Rules the World?

Imagine this: you’re at work, focused, doing your best, and suddenly an 8-year-old walks in and tells you you’re doing it all wrong. Would you listen? Or would you smile, maybe pat them on the head, and go back to your task? Some have believed for decades what an 8-year-old told them. Sounds ridiculous, right?

Lou Tice, a master of cutting through the noise, once said, “Most of your beliefs about yourself were formed before you had any idea of what was happening.” Think about that for a moment. A lot of the self-doubt, the “I can’t do this” or “I’m just not that type of person” might just be echoes from a time when you were still figuring out how to tie your shoes.

As children, we are highly impressionable and absorb information from our environment, family, and society like sponges. During these early stages, we are not equipped with the critical thinking skills necessary to challenge or validate these inputs. Consequently, many of our self-perceptions and beliefs about our capabilities stem from these unchallenged early beliefs. If you were often told you're not athletic or that you struggle with math, these comments have likely shaped your self-image over the years

It’s a startling thought. How many of us carry around limiting beliefs that were planted by our 8-year-old selves? Or worse, by that dorky kid in fourth grade who told us we’d never amount to anything? Yet, here we are, decades later, still letting that 10-year-old’s opinion shape our lives.

Now, ask yourself: Are you really going to let the limited perspective of a child dictate what you can achieve as an adult? Take a reality check of your self-talk. Where did those thoughts come from? Too many of us are living according to the rules set by a child—the child we used to be, with limited understanding and even less experience. But you? You’re an adult now, capable of growth, change, and so much more.

Can you change? Is that trait or inability set in stone? Can you learn math or finally conquer public speaking? We’re often stuck in a self-fulfilling prophecy. We say we can’t, so we don’t even try, and surprise, we never get better. But what if you believed you could? What if, instead of listening to the voice of an 8-year-old, you listened to the adult you’ve become? With conscious effort challenge and reframe them.

And here’s another thought: Are personality tests the final word on who you are? You take a test, get labeled a certain way, and suddenly you’re boxed in. But is that really who you are, or just another version of your 8-year-old self, a framework you’ve decided to stick with? Sure, personality tests can be insightful, but they shouldn’t be the end of your story. A growth mindset tells us that these evaluations are just starting points, not destinations.

Remember, our past is selective. We remember some things, forget others, and often revisit the same memories over and over. But the past isn’t set in stone—we have the power to reinterpret its meaning. We have agency, the ability to change our response to any situation, past or present.

When something bad happens, we can change its impact by changing our perspective. We can take control of our narrative, refusing to be victims of our past. Every limiting belief is an opportunity for growth. Every situation is a chance to build character and bless others, instead of being chained to a past we can’t change.

So, as we dive into day four of Lou Tice week, let’s remember: We’re not stuck in our 8-year-old minds. We have the power to rewrite our stories, to challenge every limiting belief, and to grow into the people we were always meant to be.

Contact us at BizCoachTN for help in transforming your life and business.