We all carry them within us: beliefs.
Phrases that tell us how the world works.
Phrases that define what we are allowed to do – and what not.
Phrases that protect us – and can also block us.
Often, they are so self-evident that we’re no longer aware of them.
And yet they have an effect. Every day. In our decisions, relationships, and goals.
What Are Beliefs?
Beliefs are convictions deeply rooted within us.
Many of them are formed early – through our family, our culture, or experiences that have shaped us.
Examples of limiting beliefs include:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “Others are more important than me.”
- “To be loved, I have to perform.”
- “I’m not allowed to make mistakes.”
Originally, these beliefs served to protect us – they helped us survive difficult situations or gain acceptance.
But in adulthood, they often hold us back, keep us dependent, or make us insecure.
Why It’s So Hard to Change Beliefs
Beliefs are not just thoughts that we can simply “switch off.”
They sit deeper – in the unconscious, in the body memory, in the emotional nervous system.
That’s why positive thinking alone is not enough.
A belief functions like an inner program:
It reacts automatically.
And as long as it remains unconscious, it governs our actions.
Releasing Beliefs – In 3 Steps
1. Recognize
The first step is awareness.
Ask yourself:
- What phrases do I keep hearing inside myself?
- When do they show up?
- In which situations do I feel blocked?
Beliefs often reveal themselves in recurring patterns – professionally, privately, or in relationships.
2. Regulate
You can’t “break” a belief with force.
It’s essential to calm the nervous system.
Helpful methods include:
- Breathing exercises
- Somatic/body-based work
- Mindfulness and inner observation
This way, you gradually remove the emotional power of the belief.
3. Reorient
Only once you’ve recognized and regulated the old belief can you consciously replace it with a new one.
This happens in small steps:
Instead of:
“I’m not good enough” → “I’m allowed to make mistakes and learn.”
“I have to do everything on my own” → “I’m allowed to accept support.”
It’s not about lying to yourself.
It’s about anchoring new, realistic, and empowering beliefs within you.
*A Personal Experience
One of my deepest beliefs for a long time was:
“Only if I perform, I will be loved.”
This belief shaped me early on.
It drove me to be diligent, successful, and shiny on the outside.
And yes – performance brought recognition.
But internally, I often felt empty – because true connection and love are not based on what I do, but on who I am.
The belief protected me for a while.
But it also blocked me:
I could hardly rest, hardly take breaks, hardly just be myself.
The turning point came when I began to consciously question this belief:
What if I’m loved even when I don’t perform?
What if my worth isn’t conditional?
It was a process – step by step, sometimes painful.
But gradually, I was able to anchor a new belief for myself:
“I am lovable – regardless of my performance.”
This new belief changed a lot.
Suddenly, there was more freedom, more ease.
And in my relationships, more authenticity emerged – because I no longer had to constantly “prove” that I was enough.
An Exercise for You
Take 15 minutes, a sheet of paper and a pen.
Write the sentence:
“I believe that…”
and complete it spontaneously ten times.
(e.g. “I believe that I’m only valuable if I work hard.”)
Now mark the sentences that feel heavy, tight, or limiting.
These are your limiting beliefs.
Next to them, write:
“And I decide that…”
and formulate a new, empowering version.
(e.g. “And I decide that my worth is not dependent on my performance.”)
Read these new sentences out loud – and notice how they feel in your body.
Repeat this exercise regularly.
Change doesn’t happen in one day – but step by step, you gain more freedom.
The Role of THIP
In THE HUMAN IDENTITY PROCESS, we dedicate an entire stage to working with beliefs.
You will learn to recognize your patterns, regulate them, and transform them – in small, manageable steps.
This is how sustainable transformation becomes possible.
Because beliefs are not fate.
They are changeable.
And every belief you dissolve gives you a piece of your freedom back.
Ask yourself today:
Which belief is blocking me the most right now?
And: Which new sentence would help me live more freely?
