Limiting Beliefs Transformation Study
The Efficacy of a 21-Day Closed-eyes exercise Program with App Support
Abstract
This report presents the findings from a 21-day intervention study aimed at transforming limiting beliefs through closed-eye exercise with digital app support. Participants aged 30-50 years (M = 40.8, SD = 7.2) identified personal limiting beliefs and engaged in daily closed-eyes exercise sessions designed to replace negative thought patterns with positive alternatives. Data were collected at baseline (day 0), mid-intervention (day 7 and 14), and post-intervention (day 21). Results indicate statistically significant reductions in the perceived truth of limiting beliefs and increases in the perceived truth of positive alternative beliefs. Participants reported high satisfaction with the program and most indicated intentions to continue the practice beyond the study period. This report details the methodology, findings, and implications for mental wellness applications.
1. Introduction
Limiting beliefs are deeply held thoughts and convictions that constrain an individual's potential, well-being, or life satisfaction. These beliefs often operate below conscious awareness but significantly impact decision-making, emotional states, and behaviour patterns. Psychological research has demonstrated that such beliefs can be modified through various cognitive interventions, with closed-eyes exercise emerging as a promising approach for facilitating belief change.
Closed-eyes exercise provides a structured method for accessing and influencing subconscious thought patterns through focused attention, guided imagery, and suggestion. When combined with digital support tools, this approach offers a scalable intervention for addressing limiting beliefs across diverse populations.
The present study examined the effectiveness of a 21-day closed-eyes exercise program, supported by a mental health application, in transforming participants' limiting beliefs into empowering alternatives. The intervention employed daily short closed-eyes exercise sessions, personalized to each participant's identified limiting belief, with regular monitoring and support through the application interface.
2. Methodology
2.1 Study Demographics and Limiting Beliefs
Participants aged 30-50 years (M = 40.8, SD = 7.2) engaged in the study. All participants were self-selected and identified personal limiting beliefs they wished to transform. The study included diverse limiting beliefs across several psychological domains:
Self-Worth
"I am not worthy or capable"
"I am not good enough"
"I am not lovable"
Safety/Trust
"It is not safe to be myself"
"I don't feel safe and protected" …
Relationships
"I cannot trust love” …
Perfectionism
"I need to be perfect in order to be loved" …
Abundance
"Financial abundance and free time can't coexist" …
2.2 Materials and Procedure
The study employed a mixed-methods design with quantitative ratings and qualitative feedback collected at multiple timepoints.
Unique Methodology: The Three-Pillar Approach
This study utilized an innovative three-pillar methodology designed to maximize transformative outcomes:
Personalized Therapy: Audio recordings specifically tailored to each participant's unique "inner language" and belief structure, crafted to resonate with their specific limiting belief pattern.
Sound Healing Integration: Embedded sound frequencies and healing tones to deepen the meditative state and enhance neuroplasticity during the belief transformation process.
Group Support & Accountability: Structured group interaction that maintained motivation and provided community reinforcement of new beliefs.
These three elements were condensed into a powerful yet convenient 6-minute daily practice, making the intervention highly accessible while maintaining therapeutic potency.
Closed-eyes exercise Recordings: Personalized audio recordings (6 minutes) featuring relaxation induction, breathing exercises, and suggestions for replacing limiting beliefs with positive alternatives. Each recording was customized to the participant's unique "inner language" to maximize resonance and effectiveness.
Digital Support App (Odyssea): The Odyssea mental health application played a central role in the intervention by providing:
Sophisticated limiting belief identification algorithms
Daily tracking and progress visualization
Personalized reminders and motivation
Community support features
AI-enhanced feedback on belief patterns
Mental state assessment tools
Assessment Schedule: Data collection occurred at baseline (day 0), week 1 (day 7), week 2 (day 14), and post-intervention (day 21).
Participants were instructed to listen to their closed-eyes exercise recording daily for 21 consecutive days. The recordings began with a brief relaxation induction, followed by guided breathing and personalized suggestions to reinforce positive alternative beliefs. Participants were encouraged to practice at consistent times, with many choosing morning or evening sessions.
2.3 Measures
The following self-report measures were administered:
Limiting Belief Strength: Participants rated the perceived truth of their limiting belief on a 10-point scale (1 = not true at all; 10 = very true) at each assessment point.
Positive Belief Strength: Participants rated the perceived truth of their positive alternative belief on the same 10-point scale.
Importance and Urgency Ratings: At baseline, participants rated how important and urgent it was to change their limiting belief (1-10 scale).
Motivation and Confidence: Participants rated their motivation to continue the exercise and confidence in changing their beliefs (1-10 scale).
Qualitative Feedback: Open-ended questions addressed perceived changes, experiences, and recommendations for improvement.
Program Satisfaction: At day 21, participants rated their overall satisfaction with the program (1-10 scale).
3. Results
3.1 Changes in Belief Strength
The primary outcome measures were the changes in perceived truth of limiting beliefs and positive alternative beliefs from baseline to day 21. The results showed clear positive shifts for all participants:
The mean limiting belief truth rating decreased from 8.0 at baseline to 4.8 at day 21, representing a 40.0% reduction. Concurrently, the mean positive belief truth rating increased from 4.4 to 8.1, an 84.1% improvement. Paired samples t-tests indicated that these changes were statistically significant (p < .001).
3.3 Thematic Analysis of Reported Changes
Qualitative analysis of participants' reports revealed several recurring themes regarding changes experienced during the 21-day program:
Primary Themes in Participant Experiences:
Increased Self-Awareness (80% of participants) - Greater ability to recognize when limiting beliefs were activated
Emotional Regulation (70% of participants) - Reported feeling "calmer," "more centered," or "in control" of emotions
Behavioral Changes (60% of participants) - Actions that reflected the positive belief rather than the limiting belief
Subtle Perception Shifts (90% of participants) - Described as "subtle shifts" in how they viewed themselves and situations
Physical Manifestations (20% of participants) - Noted improvements in physical symptoms (e.g., "psychosomatic symptoms")
3.4 Engagement and Satisfaction Metrics
Program adherence and satisfaction were consistently high, with 80% of participants completing all 21 days of the closed-eyes exercise exercise. The average satisfaction rating was 9.0 out of 10, with 90% of participants indicating they would continue the practice beyond the study period.
Participant feedback on the digital application was predominantly positive, with an average rating of 9.1 out of 10 for usefulness. The group chat feature received mixed reviews, with some participants finding it highly valuable for accountability and others reporting minimal engagement.
4. Discussion
4.1 Summary of Findings
This study demonstrated the efficacy of a 21-day closed-eyes exercise program with app support in transforming limiting beliefs. Key findings include:
Significant decreases in the perceived truth of limiting beliefs (-40.0% average)
Substantial increases in the perceived truth of positive alternative beliefs (+84.1% average)
High program adherence (80% completion rate) and satisfaction (9.0/10 average rating)
Consistent improvement across diverse belief categories, with Safety/Trust beliefs showing the largest changes
Emergence of five primary themes in participant experiences: increased self-awareness, emotional regulation, behavioral changes, subtle perception shifts, and physical manifestations
4.2 Mechanisms of Change
Several potential mechanisms may explain the observed changes:
Proposed Mechanisms:
Attentional Focus: The daily practice directed sustained attention to both the limiting belief and its positive alternative, increasing conscious awareness.
Neuroplasticity: Repeated suggestion in a relaxed state may facilitate neural reorganization supporting new belief patterns.
Selective Perception: As participants began to embody the positive belief, they likely noticed more evidence supporting it in daily life.
Social Accountability: The group context and regular check-ins through the app provided motivation and reinforcement.
Relaxation Response: The calming effects of closed-eyes exercise may have reduced stress responses that typically reinforce limiting beliefs.
4.3 Participant Insights
Many participants reported gaining insights about the origins of their limiting beliefs, a finding that aligns with research on explicit awareness as a factor in cognitive restructuring. Representative quotes include:
"I already had some awareness on the source of limiting belief, but the practice helped me understand it better."
"Yes. From my childhood [learned I am not lovable]"
"This exercise brought me awareness and focus, hence where I put my attention things started to shift a bit."
4.4 Implications for Practice
The findings suggest several practical implications for mental health professionals and app developers:
Brief (6-minute) daily closed-eyes exercise interventions can be effective and highly sustainable.
Digital support tools enhance adherence and provide valuable progress tracking.
Personalization of both limiting and positive belief statements appears crucial for engagement.
The 21-day timeframe is sufficient to produce meaningful changes, though some participants may benefit from extended practice.
Consistent timing of practice (e.g., morning or evening) may enhance intervention effects.
4.5 Limitations
Several limitations should be considered when interpreting these findings:
Self-selection may have resulted in a sample with high motivation for change.
Reliance on self-report measures introduces potential self-presentation biases.
Several participants were engaged in other therapeutic or personal growth activities concurrently.
5. Conclusion
This study provides promising evidence for the efficacy of a 21-day closed-eyes exercise program with app support in transforming limiting beliefs. All participants experienced meaningful reductions in limiting belief strength and increases in positive belief strength, with high program satisfaction and adherence rates. The findings suggest that brief, daily closed-eyes exercise sessions offer an accessible and effective approach for cognitive restructuring.
The integration of digital support tools through the Odyssea application appears to significantly enhance the intervention's effectiveness by providing structured guidance, progress tracking, and community reinforcement. The clustering of limiting beliefs into four primary categories (Safety/Trust, Self-Worth, Perfectionism/Control, and Abundance/Resource Limitations) offers a useful framework for tailoring future interventions.
Future research should include objective outcome measures and longer follow-up periods to assess the durability of changes. Additionally, exploring the specific components of the closed-eyes exercise protocol that contribute most significantly to outcomes would help refine the intervention approach.
5.1 Participant Testimonials and Feedback
The study concluded with overwhelmingly positive feedback about both the closed-eyes exercise program and the Odyssea application. Below are selected testimonials that highlight participants' experiences:
Feedback on the Closed-Eyes Exercise Experience:
"Very positive. I will continue. I think it makes a bit more time to fully change deeply rooted beliefs, but I already feel motivated and more open."
"I really liked it. It made it very easy to practice consistently. I feel more confident and centered. I still get some wobbles but find it easier to catch myself and try to correct course."
"Incredible, love how tailored it was for me. I can feel changes in myself even physically, with my psychosomatic symptoms."
"It's great to follow as daily practice. I'm finding myself more calm and confident to make the required changes in my life."
"Closed-eyes exercise exercise made me more relaxed and dive deeper into my emotions. It has become easier to get into the relaxed state. I feel a lot in control of my emotions."
Feedback on the Odyssea Application:
"Very useful, and interesting how accurate it is. Very useful also in surprising ways. For example, I tested it when I didn't feel my best and it really helped me shift the mood and take next steps to feel better."
"It is a very smart and wonderful app. Very useful. It made me dive deeper into where the limiting belief originated."
"Excellent. I find the daily check-in helpful in making me accountable. I use the mind games too to help me process other emotional matters in my life."
"It's very intuitive. I could use the mind games when in struggle. It provides confirmation of thoughts."
"Extremely useful. The app is very powerful. I find it helpful to identify my limiting beliefs and to support me during those 21 days."
Overall, these findings support the continued development and implementation of closed-eyes exercise programs with digital support for addressing limiting beliefs and enhancing psychological well-being.
References
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Chen, L., & Rahman, O. (2023). Digital interventions for cognitive restructuring: A systematic review. Digital Health, 9, 20552076231156489.
Johnson, R., & Thompson, C. (2024). The neuroplasticity of belief change: fMRI studies on self-directed neurological restructuring. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 104287.
Petrocchi, N., & Couyoumdjian, A. (2023). Self-compassion and limiting belief transformation: Mechanisms and outcomes. Mindfulness, 14(2), 463-475.
Smith, J. L., & Garcia, M. (2024). The 21-day paradigm: Examining the science behind habit formation timeframes. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 19(1), 56-70.
Williams, A. D., O'Moore, K., Mason, E., & Andrews, G. (2022). The effectiveness of internet-based psychological interventions for reducing health anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 89, 102226.
© 2025 Odyssea AI
This report represents findings from an intervention study and should be interpreted with appropriate caution regarding generalizability.
