If you’re going through a tough time—whether it’s depression, anxiety, or just feeling stuck—life can feel heavy. It might seem like you’re caught in a loop of negative thoughts, like you’re not enough, things will never get better, or the world is against you.
What you might not realize is that behind these feelings are core beliefs—deeply ingrained ideas about yourself, other people, and the world. They shape how you see and respond to everything happening in your life. The tricky part? These beliefs often work quietly in the background, so you don’t even know they’re there.
But here’s the good news: once you recognize these beliefs, you can start to change them. And by changing them, you can change how you feel, think, and live. Tools like Kundalini Yoga can also help you shift these beliefs at a deeper level.
What Are Core Beliefs?
Core beliefs are like a pair of glasses you wear all the time. But instead of lenses, they’re made of your deepest assumptions about yourself and the world. They shape how you interpret what happens in your life.
For example:
• If you believe “I’m not good enough,” even a small mistake might feel like proof that you’re failing.
• If you believe “People can’t be trusted,” you might hold back from building relationships, even when someone truly cares about you.
• If you believe “The world is unfair,” every setback might feel like the universe is out to get you.
These beliefs often come from childhood experiences, relationships, or even trauma. Maybe you grew up hearing criticism, feeling unseen, or experiencing hardship, and your mind created these beliefs as a way to make sense of it all.
How Core Beliefs Affect Your Mental Health
When you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, these core beliefs can make everything feel worse.
For example:
• Depression: If you believe “I’m unworthy,” you might feel like there’s no point in trying, which only reinforces the feeling of hopelessness.
• Anxiety: If your belief is “I’m not safe,” even normal situations can feel overwhelming.
• Stress: If you think “I have to be perfect,” even small mistakes can feel like the end of the world.
The more these beliefs run unchecked, the harder it can feel to climb out of the spiral. But it’s important to remember: these beliefs aren’t facts. They’re just patterns your mind has held onto—and they can be changed.
How to Recognize Your Core Beliefs
If you’re not sure what your core beliefs are, that’s okay. They’re usually so deep-rooted that they feel automatic, like they’re just “the way things are.” But here’s how you can start to uncover them:
1. Notice the Patterns in Your Thoughts
When you’re feeling really low or anxious, ask yourself: What’s the story my mind is telling me right now? Thoughts like “I’m a failure” or “No one cares” often point to a deeper belief.
2. Ask Yourself “Why?”
When something upsetting happens, dig a little deeper. For example:
• Thought: “They didn’t text me back—of course they don’t care.”
• Belief: “People always leave me because I’m not enough.”
3. Reflect on Your Past
Think about how you were treated growing up. Did you feel loved? Valued? Safe? These early experiences often lay the groundwork for our beliefs.
Using Kundalini Yoga to Change Core Beliefs
Now, you might be wondering: How do I actually change these beliefs? One powerful tool you can use is Kundalini Yoga.
Kundalini Yoga isn’t just about stretching or poses—it’s a practice that combines movement, breathing, chanting, and meditation to help you release old patterns and shift your mindset. Here’s how it can help:
1. It Clears Emotional Blockages
Negative beliefs often come from unresolved emotions or trauma stored in the body. Kundalini’s dynamic movements and breathing techniques help release these blockages, making it easier to let go of the past.
2. It Rewires Your Mind
Chanting and meditation in Kundalini Yoga help reprogram the subconscious mind, where core beliefs live. For example, mantras like “Sat Nam” (which means “Truth is my identity”) help you reconnect with your true self instead of the false beliefs you’ve been carrying.
3. It Balances Your Energy
Core beliefs are connected to your body’s energy centers, or chakras. Kundalini Yoga works to balance these centers, especially the ones tied to safety, self-worth, and confidence.
4. It Builds Inner Strength
When you practice Kundalini, you learn to sit with discomfort—whether it’s holding a challenging pose or focusing during meditation. This resilience carries over into your daily life, helping you challenge negative thoughts and beliefs.
Simple Kundalini Practices to Get Started
Here are a few beginner-friendly practices that can help you shift your core beliefs:
1. Kirtan Kriya Meditation
This is one of the most well-known Kundalini meditations for clearing negative patterns.
• Sit comfortably and chant the sounds “Sa Ta Na Ma” (infinity, life, death, rebirth) while touching your thumb to each fingertip in sequence.
• Do this for 3-11 minutes a day. It helps calm the mind and remove negativity from the subconscious.
2. Breath of Fire
This rhythmic breathing technique detoxifies the body and energizes the mind.
• Sit tall and inhale/exhale quickly through the nose while pumping your belly.
• Start with 1-2 minutes and work up to longer sessions. It’s great for breaking through mental blocks.
3. Sat Nam Mantra Meditation
Chant “Sat Nam” (Truth is my identity) out loud or silently while focusing on your breath. This mantra helps replace false beliefs with your authentic truth.
4. Ego Eradicator
This simple exercise is great for releasing self-doubt and boosting confidence.
• Sit in easy pose, extend your arms out at a 60-degree angle, and practice Breath of Fire for 1-3 minutes.
If you are interested in completing a full Kundalini Kriya, check out the 3ho website to find a Kundalini practice specifically tailored to what you want to transform in your life.
Why Shifting Core Beliefs Matters
Your core beliefs shape how you feel, how you think, and how you show up in life. Changing them isn’t easy—it takes time, patience, and compassion. But it is possible.
Kundalini Yoga is one tool that can help you tap into your deeper self and break free from limiting beliefs. Combined with self-reflection, therapy, or support from loved ones, it can open up a new way of seeing yourself and the world.
You’re Not Stuck
If life feels heavy right now, remind yourself that you’re not defined by your thoughts or feelings—they’re just patterns your mind has learned over time. And just as they were learned, they can be unlearned.
Take it one step at a time. Show yourself some kindness andd compassion. And know that with each practice, each moment of self-awareness, you’re moving closer to the life experience you deserve. You’ve got this.