Deep beliefs are a person’s key ideas about himself, about other people, about relationships, about life, about the world as a whole. They sound in the form of value judgments. Such beliefs are laid down in childhood. They make up a person’s worldview. Beliefs about oneself. They also make up self-esteem. For example: “I am capable”, “I am a fairly interesting person”, “I am attractive” and others. Or: “I am worthless”, “I am stupid”, “I am boring”, “I am a loser”. Beliefs about people. For example: “People have a good beginning,” “All people are different.” Or: “People are cruel,” “Women are materialistic,” “Men cheat.” Beliefs about the world. For example: “The world is unfair”, “The world is dangerous”, “Good triumphs over evil”. How are deep-seated beliefs formed? Most often, a child’s fundamental ideas are formed in relationships with parents and other significant people. The child learned to ride a bicycle. Mom is happy for him and praises him: - - You are so good at driving! You are so capable! Another example: A daughter accidentally breaks her mother’s favorite vase. Dad is angry: - How clumsy you are! Your hands are in the wrong place...You always drop everything, no matter what you pick up...Deep convictions can be formed without direct statements. For example, my mother often comes home from work tired. Her son runs up to her to show off his new drawing. Mom doesn't react at all. In this regard, the child may draw a negative conclusion about himself. The above examples do not mean that parents are to blame for all troubles. There are no ideal parents. And if there were, it would hardly help children in development. Children are different. The perception of parental words and behavior depends on biological factors, personality traits, and the environment. In adolescence, peers become a reference point for the child. His need is to be accepted and recognized by them. Self-image is largely influenced by the nature of relationships with peers. The process of forming ideas about oneself, people and the world continues throughout life. A person’s worldview is in constant dynamics. When everything is more or less stable and a person is busy solving everyday problems, he may not think about what he is like, what people are like and what the world is like. And during stress and crisis, negative deep-seated beliefs seem to awaken. Often, deep-seated beliefs are not formalized into any statement. But they announce their presence with typical automatic thoughts: - I will fail the exam. - Let's assume this happens. What is this about for you? What does this fact say about you? (Here we use the “falling arrow” technique - questions that help to reach deep-seated beliefs). - - that I am incapable of anything. A deep belief differs from automatic thought in that it: - - fundamental, key; - - extends to personality (people, the world) as a whole, regardless of the specific situation. For example, the belief “I’m not capable of anything” will manifest itself in studies, in work/career, in relationships, and in other areas of life. Judith Beck identified the following categories of negative core beliefs about oneself: What are the pitfalls of negative core beliefs? Trap 1. Negative ideas about yourself/people/the world act as an information filter. They let into awareness only that information that corresponds to them. And they don’t miss the one that contradicts the deepest belief. What does it look like? - - I didn’t pass the exam because I’m not capable of anything. - - But you successfully passed the previous exam! - - This is an accident. - - You were invited to an internship at a solid company. - The manager just hasn’t figured it out yet. What am I really like... Trap 2. Often, deep-seated beliefs are mistakenly passed off as feelings. And this strengthens faith in them as an immutable truth: - - I feel that no one likes me. - - You just talked about people who expressed their sympathy for you.. - - But I feel that way! How to work with deep-seated beliefs? First of all, we explain their nature. Negative core beliefs can.