Do you feel ungrounded some days?
Does it seem like others know exactly who they are and what they believe while you go back and forth?
Have you ever wished that you could possess stronger convictions so that the world knew without a doubt what you were all about?
If you identify with any of the above questions, then what you’re truly looking for are your core beliefs. Core beliefs are the things in life we value most. They could be an idea, a way of thinking, or even a personal value. Identifying your core beliefs allows you to live with more self-confidence and to be more assertive. Though without guidance, trying to pinpoint your values might feel like you’re running in circles.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may be the key to unlocking your core beliefs. Here’s how EMDR can help you.
EMDR Helps You Let Go of Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts are often covered in a mask of pseudo positivity. After all, it’s a good thing to try to be a more positive individual. But when underlying negative thoughts strangle out your emotional roots, any attempts to be more genuinely positive are likely to fail.
EMDR bypasses any masks you’ve embraced to reveal negative thoughts held deep inside.
During an EMDR session, your therapist might ask you to say what you think about yourself. Although EMDR doesn’t follow in the footsteps of traditional talk therapy, your therapist will likely initiate your verbal feedback at some point.
Because EMDR has bypassed any superficial elements, it helps you put words to those negative feelings you may have otherwise pushed away. You can then release them appropriately.
EMDR Allows You to Uncover Hidden Perceptions
EMDR helps to transform your perceptions by identifying how you truly feel about yourself, others, or life in general.
It’s not uncommon for an EMDR client to be surprised at their own response to the EMDR session. Sometimes thoughts and perceptions are so deeply interwoven into your being that you don’t know they exist. Your behavior might reflect these perceptions, but the actual thought eludes you.
EMDR allows you to uncover the perceptions that often like to hide out in the shadows of your mind.
Without even knowing it, you’ll be able to release these thoughts and bring light to perceptions you never knew existed. Like a puzzle coming together, you and your therapist can rely on EMDR to find all your hidden pieces. Thus, helping you to know what your core beliefs truly are.
EMDR Assists You in Accepting Conflicting Feelings
You’ve likely heard the analogy of the fight between the white dog and the black dog. Most people walk around enduring a similar fight inside their minds.
It’s natural to become so accustomed to this fight that you don’t even acknowledge it anymore. One of life’s unique phenomena is that you can feel two conflicting thoughts about one thing. Though, this isn’t an easy concept to embrace. So most people choose one thought to embrace and ignore the other one.
But, this coping strategy doesn’t allow you to live out your core beliefs.
EMDR helps you to bring all conflicting thoughts to the surface. You’re able to acknowledge them, process the memories connected to them, and then establish your core belief system based on that newly revealed knowledge.
Take the first step…
If you’re ready to consider EMDR therapy as part of your process of identifying your core beliefs, I would like to help. I have been a Certified EMDR Therapist since 2004, and I have helped hundreds of clients benefit from this incredibly useful methodology. Please get in touch with me via voicemail or email so we can discuss how we might work together to change your life for the better as quickly and effectively as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Linda K. Laffey, MFT
