Welcome back! Last week, we started listening for the surface-level limiting beliefs in our daily thoughts. But what about the ones that are buried so deep we don’t even recognize them? These are our “core beliefs”—the foundational myths that shape our entire reality.

This week, we’re putting on our detective hats and grabbing our magnifying glass (or, in this case, a journal). Here are five techniques to unearth those hidden saboteurs.

1. The “What’s That About?” Technique
When you catch yourself in a negative emotion (anxiety, anger, sadness), pause and ask, “What story am I telling myself right now?” Then, keep asking, “And what’s that about?” until you can’t go any deeper.
*Example: “I’m anxious about this presentation.” -> What’s that about? -> “I’m afraid I’ll fail.” -> What’s that about? -> “If I fail, people will think I’m incompetent.” -> What’s that about? -> “I’m not smart enough.” (Core Belief Found!)

2. Examine Your “Shoulds” and “Musts”
The words “should” and “must” are often signposts for beliefs we’ve inherited from others. Make a list of all the things you feel you “should” do or be. For each one, ask: “Says who?” Is this your truth, or someone else’s?

3. Look at Who You Admire (and Who Triggers You)
The people who evoke strong emotions in us are often mirrors.

• Admiration: Who do you deeply admire? What qualities do they have? This often reveals what you believe is “not possible” for you.
• Triggers: Who really gets under your skin? What about them irritates you? This can point to a quality in yourself that you’ve suppressed because of a limiting belief.

4. Follow Your Financial Fears
Money is a major area where limiting beliefs thrive. Complete these sentences:

• “Rich people are ________.”
• “To make a lot of money, I would have to ________.”
• “I can’t afford that because ________.”

5. Journaling Prompts for Deep Discovery
Set aside 15 minutes and write freely on one of these prompts:

• What did I learn about love/money/success from my family?
• If I could not fail, what would I do? What’s stopping me now?
• What is the worst thing that could happen if I pursued my biggest dream?

By the end of this week, you should have a list of suspects. Next week, we’ll put these beliefs on trial and learn how to transform them for good.