Our belief window has belief statements for every occasion.
We can clear our belief windows. First, we need to recognize the very existence of these belief statements. Second, we need to begin to clear our belief windows of those statements that are outdated, untrue, and possibly even harmful or self defeating.
We can do this by questioning our beliefs, temporarily clearing off certain belief statements, to see if the consequences are what we have always expected them to be.
If someone criticizes what I do, it does not necessarily mean that they don’t like me.
No one can be liked by everyone. I need to trust myself, not rely on other people’s judgments.
If I always do what other people want me to do, I’ll never get a chance to do what I want to do.
If the criticism is invalid and simply a put-down, we can choose how we will respond to that.
• We can get very upset because this criticism reinforces our low self esteem.
• We can totally discount the criticism because we think that individual is in no position to judge us.
• We can evaluate the criticism and decide what action we will take. But we will not bother to be upset by it, because that would be a non- constructive response.
If we have a good, realistic base of self-knowledge, then we can be serene about the things we cannot change; have the courage to change the things we can; and have the wisdom to know the difference.
Is it streaked with lots of untrue, outdated, or damaging belief state- ments that limit your options in life?
Or is it clean and easy to see through, framed by tested and true belief statements that keep your options open?
Rather than addressing just Governing Values, the Reality Model addresses all beliefs. The following diagram shows the Reality Model’s correlation with the tri-quation.
