Have you ever felt like there’s an invisible ceiling above you, quietly limiting what you can reach for? For a long time, I didn’t even realise how many of these “rules” I was living by—ones I’d never questioned but let guide my decisions and, honestly, my dreams.
I used to think life had a pretty fixed script. Grow up, get a job, stay in your comfort zone, and call it a day. But then life threw me a curveball: the opportunity to move. Not just a little hop to another city—but a giant leap to another country.
At first, it felt impossible. I was caught up in all the reasons it wouldn’t work. The logistics felt insurmountable, but the real challenge? My mindset.
I’d drawn an invisible boundary around my life, convinced that uprooting everything wasn’t something we could do. That’s for other people, right?
But here’s the thing: once we took that leap and moved from South Africa to Dubai—and later to the Netherlands—everything changed. Those invisible boundaries I’d been so sure of? They vanished. And suddenly, I realised just how big the world really is.
Now, when people ask me how we moved, I see what’s really behind the question. It’s not just about the practical steps; it’s about breaking the belief that such a big change is even possible.
The truth is, so many of the limits we face aren’t real at all. They’re like those optical illusions that trick you into thinking something’s there when it’s not. And once you see past them, you can’t unsee it.
The Nine-Dot Challenge: Thinking Outside the (Literal) Box
Let’s start with a classic brain teaser: the nine-dot challenge. Imagine nine dots arranged in a perfect grid. Your task is to connect all the dots with four straight lines—without lifting your pen.
Sounds easy, right? But most people struggle because they unconsciously trap themselves in an imaginary box.
Here’s the catch: to solve it, you have to draw outside that box. That’s where the magic happens. The rules that you thought were there? They don’t exist. They’re just assumptions you made.
This exercise is a powerful metaphor for how limiting beliefs work. We impose constraints on ourselves—imaginary rules that stop us from seeing possibilities. But once you “break the box,” you never look at challenges the same way again.
The Sharpie Circle: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
Now, let’s talk about those viral videos with the ant or spider stuck in a Sharpie-drawn circle. The creature won’t cross the line, convinced it’s a boundary.
Here’s the kicker: the line isn’t real. It’s just ink. But the ant or spider believes it’s trapped.
If they were to cross the line, the illusion would vanish. They’d realise the boundary wasn’t real at all. And once they’ve done it, that “barrier” will never stop them again.
Sound familiar? We’re all guilty of creating Sharpie circles in our minds. We look at challenges—moving to a new country, starting a new career, or chasing a big dream—and see insurmountable barriers. But what if the barriers aren’t real?
From Boundaries to Limitlessness: My Story
When my husband and I decided to leave South Africa, people wanted the step-by-step guide. How did you pack? What about visas? How did you get jobs? But here’s the thing: the logistics weren’t the hardest part.

The hardest part was breaking free from the belief that moving was impossible.
Before we took that leap, our world felt small, boxed in by the boundaries we’d unconsciously created. Moving to Dubai shattered those boundaries. And once we broke through, we realised the world was so much bigger than we’d imagined.

Now, when we consider moving again, the conversation isn’t, How could we move? It’s, Where should we move? Once that limiting belief was broken, the logistics became secondary.
Folding Laundry and Mindset Shifts
One of my “aha” moments came while doing the oh-so-glamorous task of folding laundry. I was listening to Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast, and something Jaspreet Singh said made me stop mid-fold.
He talked about how small mindset shifts can create massive ripple effects. It hit me: so much of what holds us back isn’t external—it’s internal. It’s the way we talk to ourselves, the beliefs we hold onto, and the narratives we let define us.
This realization has been front and center as I work on my first book. A core theme is challenging those limiting beliefs—asking questions like, Why do I think this way? What’s the evidence for or against it?
How to Recognise and Challenge Limiting Beliefs
If you feel stuck, here’s a place to start:
What do I believe to be true? Identify the “rules” you’re following. Are they grounded in reality?
Is this belief true, or is it just my perception? Are you letting fear or assumptions create boundaries that don’t exist?
What’s the worst that could happen? Play out the “what ifs.” Often, the worst-case scenario is far less scary than we imagine.
Who inspires me? Look for stories of people who’ve done what you want to do. If they could break through, why can’t you?
The World Is Bigger Than You Think
Breaking free from limiting beliefs isn’t easy. It takes courage to question the rules you’ve been living by. But once you do, there’s no going back.
Like the nine-dot challenge or the Sharpie circle, life’s boundaries often aren’t real. They’re imagined, reinforced by fear and doubt.
So if something feels impossible right now, take a step back and ask: Is this a real barrier, or is it just a line I’ve drawn in my mind?
Because once you cross it, the world opens up. And trust me, it’s bigger—and more accessible—than you think.
Take care,
Lindi
Ps. If you’re on this journey too and want someone to chat with, I’d love to connect. Sometimes, just talking things through can make all the difference. Feel free to book a free 15-minute chat with me. Book your session here.
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