Free The Fear and Anxiety Solution by PhD Friedemann MD Schaub Page B

beliefs can be either our most powerful internal resource or our highest obstacle.
    Our lives are constantly affected by our core beliefs, even though we don’t necessarily know what those beliefs are about. I’ve heard many clients proclaim that they don’t really have a limiting belief; they just
know
that things never work out for them, that nobody can be trusted, or that they always will be alone. Many of our core beliefs were anchored in our subconscious mind before we entered adolescence. During these early years, our subconscious mind is on a mission to figure out who we are and what our world is about. Experiences and imprints are collected by the subconscious, sorted according to their patterns and commonalities, and eventually assembled to form an understanding of the world and how to navigate in it. Just like we assemble the seemingly unrelated pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to reveal the whole picture, our subconscious takes the pieces of information it has available to form a picture of our reality that explains the past, helps us function in the present, and predicts the future. As these pieces are put together, core beliefs are formed.
    In accordance with the prime directives of the subconscious, our set of core beliefs is designed to keep us safe and to help us experience pleasure. Depending on our early imprints, these beliefs may place a stronger emphasis on either safety or enjoyment.
    Usually, we don’t consciously choose our core beliefs. Instead, they are largely based on other peoples’ beliefs or how we interpreted their actions. Here’s an example. When I was eleven years old, right before I was about to enter the
gymnasium,
the German equivalent of high school, my family went on vacation to southern France. I was cheerfully playing on a sandy beach when my parents solemnly approached me to let me know that my former teacher considered me “a late bloomer.” At first the news didn’t bother me because I was having so much fun and didn’t know what a late bloomer was (which in itself probably was a sign that I was one). But later, when my parents and I talked about it more, I understood that my teacher had expressed serious doubts about whether I was even smart enough to succeed in the
gymnasium.
I’m still grateful thatmy parents didn’t fully buy into this teacher’s limiting beliefs of my intelligence and sent me to high school anyway. However, I also felt their worries—and their pressure when I actually came home with my first D in math.
    For what seemed an eternity, their scolding, threats, and lectures told me that I was doomed for the rest of my life if I didn’t get better grades. It was pretty painful and scary. Looking back now, I realize that before that time, I used to be a happy-go-lucky, daydreaming, savor-the-moment kid. Nothing seemed too dangerous or serious to me (especially not school), and the world was full of adventures and possibilities for fun. This set of core beliefs was quickly replaced by “You need to work harder than others, because you’re not smart enough.” My parents had only good intentions and wanted to make sure that I didn’t fail in life. However, as I picked up their worries and doubts about me, I became very stressed and anxious. I couldn’t sleep before exams, and despite excellent grades I continued to question my intelligence.
    Two doctor titles and many other plaques on my wall later, I finally realized that I couldn’t outrun or outsmart this limiting belief. This is when I learned how to communicate with my subconscious mind to deprogram a belief that no longer had any validation or truth for me.
    “I am an anxious person” and “I am not good enough” are two of the most common fear- and anxiety-driven limiting beliefs. Like other limiting beliefs, they lead to a tunnel-vision perspective of yourself and the world. Anxiety and insecurity become the basis for your identity and the way you perceive reality. To let go of any limiting