Upgrade Your Life with 12 Core Schemas
What are the 12 core schemas and how do they work?
The beliefs you accumulate through the lens of your life experiences have a significant impact on your happiness and perspective. However, by assuming responsibility for these beliefs and utilising the 12 core schemas, you can foster a more optimistic outlook and lay a solid foundation for a brighter future.
Through the adoption of these core schemas, you can begin to identify and challenge negative thought patterns, replacing them with positive ones. By doing so, you can transform the way you interpret and experience the world, opening up new possibilities and opportunities.
This shift in mindset can also have a profound impact on your relationships with others. As you develop a more positive outlook, you may find that you’re better able to connect with others and build stronger, more fulfilling connections. Additionally, by cultivating a sense of inner peace and contentment, you may find that you’re better equipped to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience.
Ultimately, the decision to take responsibility for your beliefs and adopt these core schemas can be a transformative one. By choosing to view the world through a more positive lens, you can create a brighter future for yourself and those around you.
1. There Is No One Reality
No one will see the world quite like you. No one will have the exact same values, beliefs or opinions as everyone else because they have had different life experiences. Nothing highlights this more than the legal system where two opposing parties can pay millions of pounds in legal fees defending their position as they both believe they are right. They say there are two sides to every story, but in actuality, there are three, each party’s perspective and then what actually happened. We don’t believe what we see, we see what we already believe. The purpose of this core schema is to prevent you from feeling conflict, irritation, frustration and anxiety if someone opposes you or says something that you disagree with or that irritates you. You can remove negativity by acknowledging that may be true in their reality but not yours. Continue reading…
2. Disregard The Doubters
Disregarding the doubters is an essential step towards achieving your goals. It’s common to encounter naysayers who doubt your abilities, question your plans, or attempt to discourage you from pursuing your dreams. However, listening to them can be a significant setback. It’s important to remember that the people who try to bring you down are often those who are too scared to chase their own dreams. Instead of being held back by their negativity, use their doubts as fuel to push yourself further. Believe in yourself and trust that you have what it takes to succeed, despite any doubts or criticisms from others.
There is only you that will be with you every moment of every day for the rest of your life, therefore other people’s opinions should never dissuade you from fulfilling your goals. You should always disregard the doubters and follow your dreams. After all, you don’t need anyone to approve of your dreams. Continue reading …
3. Accept Responsibility
The first step is to accept full responsibility for your life. Only when you do this can you then take control of your life. If you don’t take responsibility, then invariably you will pass that responsibility on to other people, and become a part of their dreams and aspirations. Using a car as a metaphor, if you are a passenger, although you’re along for the ride you have no option on the road you take, the scenery you see or where you end up, whereas if you are the driver you can choose your journey, the route and your destination. You gain control and stop being a victim of all the past events and circumstances that may have caused you pain. Continue reading …
4. Anything Is Possible
Embracing the belief that anything is possible can propel you much further towards your dreams than shutting doors before they even have a chance to open. Acknowledging your limitless potential fuels the perseverance needed to succeed. A compelling testament to this is the story of Susan Boyle, who, despite being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and lacking media experience and social skills, became a global sensation at the age of 48. Had she not dared to believe in the realm of the possible, she would have never applied for Britain’s Got Talent, let alone achieve her lifelong dreams. Susan Boyle’s story illustrates the power of embracing a mindset that anything is achievable, no matter the odds. Continue Reading …
5. Failure Only Exists When You Quit
The power of perseverance and the refusal to give up is a lesson that has been exemplified by countless successful individuals throughout history. These people teach us that the only true failure is giving up.
One such individual is Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric lightbulb. Edison failed over 10,000 times before finally succeeding, but he never gave up. For him, failure did not exist; each attempt was simply a step towards success.
Similarly, Sir Roger Bannister shattered the belief that running a mile in under four minutes was impossible. His success inspired others, and that same year, five more individuals achieved this incredible feat.
Other examples include J.K. Rowling, who faced rejection 12 times before Harry Potter was finally accepted, and Walt Disney, who received over 300 rejections for Mickey Mouse. Colonel Sanders’ KFC was turned down by 1,009 restaurants before finding success, and even Oprah Winfrey was once fired for being deemed unfit for television.
These individuals demonstrate that success often requires persistence and determination in the face of failure. It is important to remember that setbacks and failures are not indicative of personal shortcomings, but rather opportunities to learn and grow.
When feeling discouraged, we should remind ourselves of the many things we have already achieved in life, no matter how small. It is important to take inspiration from these stories of perseverance, and to remember that a winner never quits, no matter how slowly they may progress towards their goals. Continue Reading…
6. It's Never Too Late
The truth is it’s never too late, you’re never too old or too stuck in your ways. You can have and be whatever you want. Mary Berry started her TV career at 75 years young! Colonel Sanders set up KFC at the age of 65! You become what you think about, therefore think of yourself as a victor. Many people believe that their past determines their future and that once they’ve made certain choices or taken certain paths, they can never change their circumstances. But this simply isn’t true. Our lives are not predetermined and we have the power to shape our own destinies. The choices we make today, no matter how small, can have a profound impact on the direction our lives take tomorrow. (Continue Reading…)
7. Plan Your Life
If you don’t plan your life, you will become destined to become a part of someone else’s plans and what they have planned for you may not be great. Having goals, both small and large, long and short term, and even goals that may seem entirely impossible today will make you far more successful than you ever would be without. Read more about goal-setting.
8. You Are What You Eat
Your body is the vehicle that drives you through your life. Like a car your body needs the correct fuel to run efficiently. It needs fuel for energy it needs fuel to function, for your organs to work well, for your cells to regenerate, for your hair and nails to grow and most importantly, to keep you healthy and able to fight disease. If you don’t put the right fuels into your vehicle, it will run badly or stop working altogether. Put simply: If you eat poorly, you will feel poorly. (Continue reading…)
9. Save Yourself Before You Save the World
It’s important to remember that you’re the only constant in your life. You’ll be with yourself 24/7, for every moment moving forward. This is why it’s essential to prioritise your own needs and wants. Society often teaches us that self-care is selfish, but have you ever considered that neglecting your own needs could be the true selfishness? When you’re fulfilled and content, those around you will also benefit. You’ll radiate positivity and kindness, making you a joy to be around. Think of the safety briefing on an aeroplane: you’re instructed to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others in the event of an emergency. By taking care of yourself first, you’ll have the strength and ability to help others more effectively. (Continue reading…)
10. No One Is Born Bad
Whilst this core schema may cause controversy, we ask you to contemplate the notion that no one is born bad, it is more likely that circumstances have shaped them that way. If someone has treated you poorly, it’s likely because they have experienced similar mistreatment themselves. For example, if someone has been a bully towards you, it’s possible that they were either bullied themselves or envious of you. Knowing this, we hope you realise that whoever has treated you badly or been unkind to you, it wasn’t personal to you, it’s because they are mean and unkind to most people due to their own insecurities inadequacies and potential self-loathing. Continue reading …
11. You Must Give To Receive
If you consider the world to be a mirror, then essentially what you give out will reflect back at you. If you smile, people will smile back, if you laugh uncontrollably people laugh with you, if you give hugs you’ll get hugged, if you give love, you are more likely to be loved in return. On the other hand, if you are negative, you will attract negative people. If you are argumentative, people will argue with you and if you do not value yourself then you will allow yourself to be treated without value. If you find yourself slipping into negative thoughts or behaviours remind yourself, that your world is a mirror and you can ensure through your thoughts and actions that happiness shines on you. Continue reading …
12. You Become What You Think About
The greatest gift we all have as human beings is the capability of transporting ourselves from sadness to happiness in a heartbeat simply by directing our thoughts. If you think about the people who have hurt you, crossed you or irritated you or the things that have gone wrong, or your ailments, then you continue to be a victim to all those people and experiences. The consequences of this are negative emotions such as anger, fear, rage, self-pity and anxiety. You become what you think about, so make efforts to think about things that will empower you and make you the happy person you deserve to be.
Print out the 12 Core Schemas and pin them somewhere you can see them to remind yourself that you have the key to your happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most effective way to overcome a phobia is by gradually and repeatedly exposing yourself to what you fear in a safe and controlled way. This is not always easy alone, but one hundred percent possible. FIND OUT MORE
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Absolutely. Social anxiety is usually a learned behaviour, often formed in childhood. Locating the origin of your belief is key. FIND OUT MORE
