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What Are Core Beliefs—and Why They Matter
- sharleen556
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Key Takeaways
Core beliefs are deep-rooted ideas you hold about yourself, others, and the world.
Some are empowering; others are limiting beliefs that keep you stuck or small.
Your beliefs shape how you think, feel, relate, and make decisions.
Becoming aware of your beliefs gives you the power to change your story.
You can honor the beliefs that support you—and let go of the ones that don’t.
The Beliefs Beneath the Surface
Have you ever asked yourself why you do what you do?
Why certain choices feel safe, or why the same type of challenge keeps coming up?
It often comes down to your core beliefs—the deeply held ideas you have about yourself, other people, and the world. They usually operate in the background, like quiet, sometimes loud, software running the show.
Some of these beliefs are helpful, encouraging, and grounding.
Others are what we call limiting beliefs—the ones that hold you back.
What Is a Limiting Belief?
A limiting belief is a story you’ve come to believe as true, even though it might no longer reflect who you are—or who you're becoming.
It might sound like:
“I’m not the kind of person who can do that.”
“I always mess things up.”
“It’s too late for me.”
“I don’t deserve more.”
“If I speak up, I’ll get rejected.”
These beliefs often begin as protection. They helped you navigate something at one point in your life. But over time, they can start shaping your world in ways that no longer feel aligned, or help you move forward.
Realization Comes Before Change
You might start looking at your beliefs when you begin to notice that something feels off.
Maybe a decision doesn’t sit right.
Maybe a familiar reaction keeps showing up.
Or maybe you’re just starting to question why the same outcomes keep repeating themselves.
That’s when beliefs become useful—not to fix anything, but to help you understand what’s underneath.
You might ask:
What must I believe for this to feel true?
Where did that come from?
Is this belief helping me—or holding me back?”
You don’t have to force anything.
You just have to get curious.
How Core Beliefs (and Limiting Beliefs) Shape Your Life
As you begin to explore your beliefs, you may start to see:
Why certain things trigger you
Why you hold back in specific situations
Why you seek approval, stay quiet, or avoid risks
Why change feels hard—even when you want it
Core beliefs influence your decisions, boundaries, sense of self, and your relationships.
They don’t just color how you see the world—they shape how you show up in it.
A Coaching Exercise to Explore Your Beliefs
Here’s a practice to start tuning in to your beliefs—especially the limiting ones:
1. Notice what’s happening insidePick a moment when you felt anxious, frustrated, hurt, or stuck.
Ask yourself:
What belief might be operating here?
You might hear:
“I have to do this perfectly.
“No one really listens to me.
“If I say what I need, I’ll lose the relationship.
2. Trace it back
Where did this belief come from?
Is it something I chose—or something I absorbed?
How old does this belief feel?
3. Gently challenge it
Is this always true?
What else might be true, too?
What would change if I didn’t believe this anymore?
Letting Go, With Love
You don’t need to force yourself into a new story overnight.
What helps is honoring what used to protect you—and asking whether it still belongs in your life today.
Some beliefs may still serve you well. Others might be ready to be re-examined, reworded, or released.
Give yourself the room to see, feel, and choose differently.
Closing Thoughts
Your beliefs influence the way you move through the world—whether you speak up or stay quiet, follow your gut or second-guess yourself, take action or avoid it altogether.
When you get curious about what you believe, you create space.
Space to make different decisions.
Space to live by your values, not your fears.
Space to rewrite the story, one belief at a time.
So ask yourself:
What do I believe? And is it still true for the person I am today?