Discovering your beliefs about yourself

The Roots of Your Emotional Reality

Our beliefs are the foundation upon which we build our experience of the world.

They act as our mind's silent operating system, filtering reality and largely dictating our emotional responses.

A core belief, such as "I am unworthy of love," will inevitably generate emotions of loneliness, insecurity, and sadness in relationships.

Conversely, a belief such as "I am capable of learning and overcoming any challenge" will foster feelings of confidence, resilience, and optimism.

Often, these beliefs are so deep and ingrained that they operate unconsciously, yet their influence is constant and powerful.

Our internal dialogue, the things we tell ourselves day in and day out, is the clearest reflection of these underlying beliefs.

An Archaeological Digging Exercise

To unearth these core beliefs, which are often formed in our childhood, we can perform an introspective writing exercise.

• Find a quiet space: Take 15 or 20 minutes where you will not be interrupted.
• Pose the central question: On a piece of paper, write the question: "What do I really believe about myself?".
• Free and uncensored writing: Start writing everything that comes up in response to that question. Don't stop to judge, analyze, or correct. Simply let the ideas flow freely onto the paper.

The goal is to bypass the internal censor and allow the subconscious material to emerge. You can write about your abilities, your worth, your relationships, your potential, etc.

Identifying and Transforming Limiting Beliefs

Once you have finished writing, read carefully what you have written.

Underline or highlight any statements that are negative, limiting, or disempowering.

Examples could be: "I always make the same mistakes," "I am not smart enough," "I will never find a partner who truly loves me."

The transformative step comes now. For each limiting belief you have identified, deliberately create an alternative belief that is positive and empowering.

This is an act of consciously rewriting your own internal script.

Limiting belief: "I am bad at finances."

• Empowering belief: "I am learning to manage my money wisely and confidently."

Limiting belief: "I am always being abandoned."

• Empowering belief: "I am worthy of loyal love and I am building healthy, secure relationships."

Repeating and seeking evidence for these new beliefs is a powerful method for reprogramming your mind.

By changing your core beliefs, you inevitably change the emotions that blossom from them, thus transforming your emotional landscape from the inside out.