How are Core Beliefs created?
Core Beliefs are created unconsciously during experiences of childhood trauma. In these moments of trauma, our subconscious mind attempts to make sense of the situation by creating a conclusion about what it means. That conclusion is your Core Belief.
let’s unpack this a little bit, shall we?
What do you mean we create core beliefs unconsciously?
The creation of core beliefs is done without conscious choice or awareness. We don’t choose to believe that we are not good enough or not important enough. Our unconscious mind does it for us.
Your unconscious mind is a part of your mind that is in charge of all the functioning that you are not aware of, and that does not require effort from you. This includes keeping your heart pumping, your lungs squeezing and all your trillions of cells functioning properly. It also includes, storing memories, analyzing billions of bits of information at all times, and creating (and reinforcing) Core Beliefs.
Why would my mind create a negative belief about me?
There are two reasons your mind creates a negative belief (and both are related to one another):
- Coherence- Your unconscious mind’s job is to protect you, and it does this by taking information from the world and making sense of it. Imagine walking into a room and seeing a whole bunch of furniture floating in the air, even the material from which the furniture is built (the wood, metal, fabric) is intermingling with other materials. It’s hard to know where one piece ends and another begins. Your mind will find this unusual and alarming, and will immediately try to make sense of what is going on and what material belongs to what piece of furniture. By doing this, your mind will create more calmness inside you. Making sense (even if its negative), is better than not making sense.
- Protection from future threat- if I know what’s happening I can protect myself from it happening again.
What is childhood trauma, and how do I know if I have it?
A childhood trauma is any experience you had that met ALL of these citeria:
- You were under the age of 15
- You had an overwhelming feeling of sadness, shame, anger, disgust or fear.
- You felt alone with these feelings.
I guarantee you have had childhood traumas because everybody has had childhood traumas. Traumas are a normal part of life. It does not mean you or your family are broken. It just means you are human.
Are all traumas the same?
No, absolutely not.
While traumas are not limited to abuse, neglect or growing up in a war-torn country, there are different categories of traumas that differ in their impact on us. For example, there are single event traumas versus repetitive (developmental) traumas, and ….
The general rule is: the more often it occured, the closest to us the perpretrator, the younger we were, and the less support we had, the more impactful the trauma.
Does everybody experience trauma in the same way?
No. Trauma is subjective.
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what happens inside us in response to what happens to us” – Dr. Gabor Mate
When an event occurs where we feel overwhelmed by a negative emotion AND alone with it, we interpret the event through a network of psychological filters:
- previous experiences
- personality & temperament
- belief and value system (from family, culture and religion)
- neurological development (age and capacity)
Do we have to release trauma to reprogram Core Beliefs?
Yes, and no. When we reprogram Cor Beliefs, trauma automatically gets released. Not all traumas of course, we all have many traumas. But some of trauma that is connected with your core belief will be released.
