Helping our patients to fine tune our beliefs, rules and behaviours, but still maintain our overarching values to stay true to who we are

In counseling, one of the things we can help folks to realize is that “values”, when interacting with our experiences, can lead to certain “beliefs”. Certain beliefs can lead to various “internal rigid rules” that we can develop for ourselves. And our rules can lead to certain behaviors.

If our values, beliefs, rules and behaviors are creating a life that we want, then no further reflection is really needed.

If not, then it may be worthwhile to reflect and change.

The trick is to fine tune our beliefs, rules and behaviours, but still maintain our overarching values to stay true to who we are.  We may want to hold our rules more lightly but our values more tightly.