We all have an internal "thermostat" that dictates how much success, love, and creativity we allow ourselves to enjoy. When we start to outgrow our old limits, our subconscious often "Upper Limits" us—using old habits or self-sabotage to pull us back to a temperature that feels safe.
Based on the transformative work of Gay and Katie Hendricks, this checklist is designed to help you identify your signature "Upper Limit" behaviors.
How to use this tool: Scroll through the symptoms below. Don't judge what you find—simply notice. Recognition is the first step toward making your Big Leap. Once you've identified your patterns, use the Somatic Reset at the bottom of the page to stay grounded in your genius.
10 Signs You’re Hitting an Upper Limit
The Checklist:
#1: Worrying
You find yourself obsessing over things you can’t control or "inventing" problems to dampen the feeling of a recent success.
#2: Criticism & Blame
You suddenly start picking at your partner or judging yourself harshly to create a "downer" experience.
#3: Deflecting
You "brush off" a compliment or a win immediately, refusing to let the positive energy land in your body.
#4: Squabbling
You create unnecessary conflict in your relationships to vent the "excess" positive energy you aren't used to feeling.
#5: Getting Sick or Hurt
You experience "unconscious" accidents—tripping, stubbing toes, or a sudden cold—exactly when things are going well.
#6: Integrity Breaches
You start "forgetting" commitments, showing up late, or cutting corners on tasks you usually handle with ease.
#7: Rushing
You experience a physical “hurry up” sensation when there is no actual deadline.
#8: Indifference
Suddenly loosing interest or feeling indifferent toward a project you were obsessed with yesterday. This is your subconscious trying to "cool down" the high-heat energy of your success.
#9: Being “too busy”
Finding yourself in a frenzy of low-level tasks (cleaning the junk drawer, clearing 1,000 unread emails) to avoid doing the "Genius" work that will move you forward.
#10: Fear of Outshining
You find yourself ‘playing small’ or slowing down your progress so you don’t leave others behind or make them ‘feel bad’.
Have You Hit Your Upper Limit?
If you found yourself nodding along to several of these, this might be a sign you’re hitting your upper limit.
Your first instinct might be a sense of contraction. You might notice you’ve been holding your breath thinking "Oh no! I do all of these!”
Here’s the thing, we are not identifying our upper limits to shame ourselves into doing better.
It’s a signal of expansion and progress
If you’ve hit an upper limit, recognize that it is a signal. You’re on the verge of stepping into a more expansive, successful version of yourself.
These behaviors are simply your nervous system's way of trying to protect you from the unfamiliar heat of your own success. Of course feeling more love, joy and success is a good thing. However, our nervous system will sense anything that’s too unfamiliar (good or bad) as a threat to your safety.
So, you’ve hit an upper limit, now what?
Step 1: Acknowledge
Simply notice the behavior without any judgment.
Instead of saying “I’m self sabotaging again”, try saying “I notice I am worrying, rushing, picking a fight…I wonder if I am hitting an upper limit?”
The goal is to move from being inside the feeing to being an observer of the feeling
Step 2: Wonder
A physical movement such as wiggling your fingers and toes can help you shift out of the reactive fear response and back into your creative brain.
With a gentle “hmmm” sound, ask yourself “hmmm what good feeling might be trying to come through here? What positive feeling is my subconscious trying to avoid?
Step 3: Take 3 easy breaths
As you breathe in, imagine you are creating more space inside your body to hold these good feelings.
The next time you feel a positive feeling such as love, joy or gratitude, see how long you can hold onto that feeling. Letting it land in your body, experiencing, what does joy feel like in my body? (Maybe it’s a whole-body lightness, or a spacious feeling, maybe a buzzing sensation)
Bonus:
Repeat the ‘Ultimate Success Mantra’ Gay Hendricks suggests to reprogram & expand your internal thermostat.
“I expand in abundance, success and love every day, as I inspire those around me to do the same.”
Big Leap Certified Coaching
I’m Alana, and I believe your capacity for joy is meant to be expanded, not managed.
As a Big Leap Certified Coach, I specialize in helping high-achievers move past the hidden 'glass ceilings' that hold them back from their full potential. My work is rooted in the somatic and psychological tools developed by the Hendricks Institute, combined with a deep commitment to helping you live, love, and lead from your Zone of Genius.
I don’t just teach these tools; I live them. I’m here to help you navigate the 'contraction' of an Upper Limit so you can stay in the 'expansion' of your most successful life."
The checklist and tools on this page are inspired by the life-changing work of Dr. Gay Hendricks and Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks. Their book, The Big Leap, is the definitive guide to overcoming self-sabotage and living in your Zone of Genius.
The 'Upper Limit Problem,' 'The Big Leap,' and 'Zone of Genius' are trademarks and concepts developed by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. As a Big Leap Certified Coach, I am honored to share these tools to help you expand your capacity for success.
“I expand in abundance, success and love every day, as I inspire those around me to do the same.”
-Gay Hendricks