The Limits You Inherited—And Why They’re Not Yours to Keep
A Black woman stands at the center, looking directly forward with determination. Behind her are shadowy silhouettes representing inherited beliefs and generational limits. In front of her is bright burnt orange and gold light breaking through. She's breaking free from the shadows into the light.
Last week, we dug into what they told you was impossible—the people who projected their fears, their limitations, and their small thinking onto you.
But this week?
We’re flipping the lens.
Because sometimes, it’s not about what they said.
It’s about what you absorbed—without even realizing it.
👉🏾 The beliefs you grew up around.
👉🏾 The warnings disguised as wisdom.
👉🏾 The limits that were handed to you as “just how the world works.”
And if you’re not careful?
You’ll spend your life living by rules you never even agreed to.
A Black woman with natural coils sits on a light gray couch, hand on her heart, looking upward with wonder and recognition. Behind her are golden silhouettes of diverse people—different ages, genders, styles—representing mentors, ancestors, and wisdom keepers.
What Stories About “Reality” Have You Inherited?
Growing up, most of us weren’t explicitly told, You can’t do that. It wasn’t always direct.
Instead, the limitations were woven into everyday life.
🔥 “We don’t do things like that.” → Translation: That’s for other people, not us.
🔥 “Be practical.” → Translation: Don’t dream too big—you’ll only be disappointed.
🔥 “That’s not realistic.” → Translation: We’ve never seen it done before, so it must not be possible.
🔥 “You think you better than us?” → Translation: If you step too far out of line, you’ll lose your place in this family or community.
And if we heard it enough?
It didn’t just become what they believed.
It became what we believed.
We start shrinking our dreams before we even give them a chance.
We start playing small, not because we can’t—but because we were never shown that we could.
And the worst part?
Most of us don’t even recognize we’re doing it.
SIDE BAR: 💭 Girl… Stop Letting Small-Minded People Edit Your Big Life
Listen, sis—
There will always be somebody standing on the sidelines of your life telling you what can’t be done.
But here’s what I need you to remember:
🔥 Most people aren’t threatened by your dream. They’re threatened by the version of you who believes she can pull it off.
🔥 Their doubt is not data. It’s just the ceiling they’ve never broken.
🔥 And you? You were never built to live inside someone else’s limits.
So the next time somebody tries to hand you their fear wrapped as “advice,” I need you to pause and tell yourself:
“Girl… that’s their story. Not mine.”
Then breathe deep…square your shoulders…and keep moving toward the thing they swear is impossible.
Because nothing exposes a lie faster than a woman who refuses to shrink.
A Black woman in a moment of recognition, hand on her heart or head, looking inward. Around her are faint, shadowy limiting thoughts—'That's not realistic,' 'You're not ready,' 'What if you fail'—beginning to dissolve. Bright burnt orange and gold light breaks through, illuminating her face as she recognizes these as echoes, not truth. Deep teal background with sky blue accents. No text overlays.
How to Recognize the Programming That’s Been Holding You Back
Let’s keep it real: Most of us are walking around carrying beliefs that aren’t even ours.
🚨 Someone else’s fear of failure? You’re carrying that.
🚨 Someone else’s distrust of money? You’re carrying that.
🚨 Someone else’s skepticism about success? You’re carrying that.
And you know how you know?
Because every time you start thinking bigger, bolder, beyond what you’ve been taught—your mind starts fighting you.
🚨 “That’s not realistic.”
🚨 “You’re not ready for that.”
🚨 “What if you fail?”
🚨 “Who do you think you are?”
But here’s the truth:
💡 It’s not your voice—it’s an echo.
💡 It’s not your limit—it’s one you inherited.
💡 And it’s not your reality—unless you decide to keep it.
A Black woman with natural coils stands powerfully in a rust and orange suit with a flowing teal cape, arms at her sides in a confident stance. A bright golden circle of light radiates behind her like a halo. Around her are shadowy silhouettes of other figures in the background against a city skyline.
The Difference Between THEIR Experience and YOUR Destiny
Listen.
The people who raised you, taught you, influenced you—they weren’t bad people.
They were just operating from their experience.
Maybe your grandmother never saw financial freedom.
Maybe your mother never had healthy love.
Maybe your family never saw someone break generational curses.
But their experience isn’t your destiny.
And just because they never saw it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
💡 Someone has to be the first.
💡 Someone has to rewrite the story.
💡 Someone has to show what’s possible.
And if that someone is you?
Then you need to start thinking beyond what they’ve seen.
A Black woman stands at a crossroads. Behind her are shadowy images representing her family's past—struggle and generational patterns. In front of her is bright, open possibility. She's turning toward the light, one hand reaching forward.
How to Start Breaking Free: The Decision That Changes Everything
Now, you have a choice.
🔥 You can stay within the limits you were given—or you can challenge them.
🔥 You can keep following the old script—or you can write a new one.
🔥 You can let their past define your future—or you can become proof that there’s more.
So today, I want you to ask yourself:
✅ What beliefs about success, money, love, or possibility did I inherit?
✅ Which of those beliefs have been holding me back?
✅ And what new belief am I choosing to embrace instead?
Because at the end of the day?
🔥 The limits you inherited aren’t yours to keep.
🔥 You can hand them back.
🔥 And you can build something greater.
A Black woman with natural coils stands confidently in a modern space. As she images her impossible dreams and touches her heart, an imaginary scribe writes her thoughts, changing the direction of her story. Behind her, bright burnt orange and gold light radiates upward like knowledge and possibility. Around her are swirling teal and blue patterns representing energy and transformation. She's grounded and powerful, looking upward with hope.
Your Next Step: Own Your New Story
This isn’t just about realizing what you’ve inherited.
It’s about choosing what you want to keep—and what you’re ready to release.
🚀 So, drop a comment: What’s one belief you’re releasing today?
I want to hear it.
I want to witness you step into something bigger.
Because you?
You weren’t made for small thinking.
You weren’t made to live inside limits.
🔥 You were made to break them. 🔥
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The Dream Audit—If It Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK
Take the dream you’ve been shrinking… and make it 20% bigger.
HOW TO DO IT:
✔ Small: Write the dream in uncensored form.
✔ Medium: Expand it by 20%.
✔ Big: Share it with someone — or take the first step toward it.
EXAMPLE (Love)
Small: Write the dream in uncensored form.
“I want a peaceful relationship where I feel loved, supported, and chosen.”
Medium: Expand it by 20%.
“I want a peaceful relationship where I feel loved, supported, chosen — and partnered with someone who is emotionally intelligent, financially stable, and invested in my purpose.”
Big: Share it or take the first step.
Tell your journal — or your therapist.
Or take the first step: delete the man who drains you, or download the dating app you’ve been avoiding, or finally say what you truly need.
Dr. Sagashus inviting you into the IMverse through the Wanted Newsletter or coaching.
FAQ SECTION
Q: How do I know if a belief I’m struggling with is actually mine—or something I inherited?
Ask yourself: Did I ever choose this belief? Or was it handed to me through family, culture, religion, or survival? If it feels heavy, limiting, or rooted in fear—not vision—it probably isn’t yours. If you want help sorting internal truth from inherited programming, this series walks you through that process week by week.
Q: What if challenging these inherited beliefs feels like I’m betraying my family?
That tension is real. But breaking a generational limit isn’t betrayal—it’s liberation. The people who taught you those beliefs were teaching from what they knew, not from what’s possible for you. If you’re wrestling with guilt, deeper work in the IMverse coaching or the Covet Journal can help you process it.
Q: Why does it feel so hard to let go of beliefs I know are holding me back?
Because those beliefs kept someone you love safe. Even if they no longer fit your life, your nervous system treats them like protection. Letting go means stepping into unfamiliar emotional territory—and that takes time, compassion, and practice. If you need support shifting that internal wiring, the weekly challenges in this series are designed for exactly that.
Q: What if the belief I inherited feels true because I’ve seen it play out in my family for generations?
Patterns repeat until someone interrupts them. Yes, you’ve seen it—but that doesn’t make it destiny. You were born into the pattern, but you weren’t born to remain in it. If you want to build a new blueprint, Week 12 of this series and IM coaching offer tools for doing that intentionally.
Q: How do I stop my mind from fighting me when I start thinking bigger?
That resistance is your old programming trying to protect the small version of you. It shows up when you’re expanding—and that’s proof you’re on the right path. You don’t silence the resistance. You outgrow it. The Impossible Possibilities journey teaches you how to build new mental pathways anchored in truth, not fear.
Q: What if the beliefs I inherited are connected to survival—like money fear, work guilt, or scarcity?
Then honor the survival they provided… and release the parts that are now suffocating your growth.
You can keep the wisdom without keeping the limits.
If you want to explore this deeper, coaching or the Covet Journal’s sections on self-value and abundance are powerful tools.
Q: I feel like I’m the first in my family to think like this. Is that normal?
Yes.
Being “the first” is heavy, lonely, and sacred work.
It means you’re not just breaking cycles—you’re building new ones.
If you’re navigating that alone, the IMverse offers community and grounding so you don’t have to be the only pillar holding everything up.
Q: How do I start rewriting my beliefs without overwhelming myself?
Start small:
One belief.
One moment of awareness.
One new truth.
One tiny action that contradicts the old story.
Transformation doesn’t require force—it requires intention.
This week’s challenge is a simple entry point, and the coaching containers offer deeper support when you’re ready.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Dr. Sagashus Levingston is an author, entrepreneur and PhD holder. She has two fur babies, Maya and Gracie, six children (three boys and three girls), and they all (including her partner) live in Madison, WI. She loves all things business, is committed to reminding moms of their power, and is dedicated to playing her part in closing the wealth gap for people of color and women. She believes that mothering is a practice, like yoga, and she fights daily to manage her chocolate intake. The struggle is real, y’all…and sometimes it’s beautiful.
Follow her on Instagram: @infamous.mothers