Core Belief Engineering Articles By Lisa Sidorowicz, B.A., M.A., B.Ed., Certified Practitioner and Instructor Replacing Inner Conflict with Inner Harmony Part of you wants to pursue your own goals, but another part believes your self-worth will only be measured by gaining your parents' approval. Part of you knows that standing up for yourself and honouring your own needs reflects self-esteem, yet another part believes that this behaviour is narcissistic. Part of you yearns for the intimacy of a loving, committed relationship, but another part fearfully believes that commitment is a trap and avoids it at all costs. Two contradictory mind sets or belief systems cannot exist simultaneously in the mind without producing varying degrees of inner conflict or tension. Taken to extremes, internal conflicts can result in feelings of guilt, fear, hesitation, anger, compulsions, withdrawal, depression and physical problems. Even seemingly minor internal rifts can cause frustration. For example, if part of you desires to take a vacation, but another part believes that you should be more responsible and save your money, you may end up feeling conflicted. If you take the vacation, you may feel guilty. If you invest the money, you may feel resentful. Either option leaves you feeling unsatisfied. Core Belief Engineering (CBE) is a belief change technology that resolves inner conflict by identifying and re-engineering limiting belief systems held in the subconscious mind. CBE views the subconscious mind as a compartmentalization of parts, each with its own talents, abilities, and core beliefs. All parts are trying to help and protect us, to the best of their abilities, yet internal conflicts often result in the subconscious when different parts have contradictory beliefs. The subconscious beliefs that are the most destructive are those formed in childhood when we were trying to survive in an adult world that we could only understand from a child's perspective. As adults, we automatically repeat these childhood patterns and coping strategies even though they may be self-sabotaging. Despite the fact that we have grown consciously and chronologically, our belief systems and oftentimes our emotional or intellectual development have remained suspended in their child states. Consequently, we may consciously desire to change, but our limiting subconscious beliefs are stubbornly and faithfully holding conflicting patterns in place, resulting in a myriad of mental, emotional, and physical problems. Core Belief Engineering views all issues or problems as symptoms of deeper core issues. In day-long sessions (anywhere from 4 to 8 hours per session), individuals take the time needed to address and change the limiting subconscious belief systems at the root of irrational reactions, self-sabotaging patterns, depression, anxiety, fear, abuse, shame, helplessness, uncontrollable reactions, low self-worth, codependency, phobias, compulsions, etc. Sessions resolve contradictions within the subconscious and create feelings of inner strength and supportiveness. In addition to solving the core issues, CBE empowers people to get to know their true self and become partners with their subconscious. This harmony fosters expanded consciousness, more confidence, easier management of emotions, intellect and intuition, enhanced self-esteem and worth, and more self-trust, respect, and love.