In previous chapters, we placed a strong emphasis on destructive thoughts and beliefs. This is unsurprising, as they negatively affect our emotions, behavior, and overall state.
This raises the question: Are all our beliefs really that bad, and can they be beneficial to us?
The problem is that negative beliefs are activated when we are stressed, depressed, or encounter any confirmation of these beliefs.
For example, if someone believes "I am incapable of anything", this belief is likely to be triggered in situations of failure, such as failing an exam or receiving criticism from a boss.
The person will interpret what happens through the lens of this belief, even if it is illogical and unreasonable.
However, this does not mean that all our beliefs are bad and there is nothing useful in them.
In less stressful situations or in a more resourceful state, another, positive belief may be activated, for example: "I am capable enough".
More content in our app
You're only seeing a portion of the content. In the app, you'll find numerous interactive articles. Additionally, there are psychological tests to track your mood dynamics, a daily planner, an automatic thought journal, and much more!
Therefore, the answer to the question "Are all beliefs harmful?" is no, not all.
Regarding the positive influence of irrational beliefs, the situation is a bit more complicated, let's delve into it.
Some might think that it's not all bad and irrational beliefs can even be helpful in life, but this is more likely a misconception than the truth.
To provide a fuller picture, let's consider examples. We have already discussed that there are three levels of thinking: thoughts, intermediate beliefs, and core beliefs.
Imagine a young man named John has a core belief: "I am incapable of anything", and an intermediate belief, for example, "I must always be successful".
On one hand, it may seem that there is nothing wrong with this belief. It's great that John wants to be successful. At first glance, indeed, there is nothing wrong if it's just a desire or goal and not a rigid, strict rule.
You might think that it is even beneficial for him, as this mindset will make him work hard, achieve certain successes, become more motivated and goal-oriented.
Work becomes very important to him, and it seems to only bring positive consequences.
But let's dig deeper.
If it really is an intermediate belief and not just a desire, then it is likely to be destructive rather than constructive. This happens because it is rooted in his core belief. In this case, work becomes a coping strategy for John (We will talk more about coping strategies in the following chapters).
Since a person can only love or hate their work, they must see its consequences. Workaholics simply forget that they do not exist for work, but work exists for them.
Leo Tolstoy
In short, a coping strategy is a response to stress that manifests through thoughts, feelings, or behavior.
In simple terms, John strives to be successful (his intermediate belief) to avoid feeling incapable (which is his core belief). And his focus on work is a way to avoid such self-perception.
This is destructive because if John encounters problems at work, fails in his career, or gets fired, he will unconsciously confront his deep belief in his own incapacity, which could seem like an apocalypse to him.
This could lead to a deterioration in his condition, apathy, destructive behavior, and even depression.
Now the consequences don't seem so great, do they?
It turns out that the belief "I must always be successful" is more harmful than beneficial. No one is immune to failures and mistakes. With such a mindset, every mistake will become for him a confirmation of his core belief, which, in turn, will only strengthen his belief in it.
It is important to understand that any belief is just an idea that can be changed to make it more useful. This can significantly improve the quality of life, and cognitive-behavioral therapy helps with this.
