Thoughts to Beliefs: Mapping our Experience

I started thinking about the CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and in particular, the application of REBT (rational emotive behavior therapy). Both of these point to the inter-relationship between thoughts, feelings, behavior. The terminology may differ slightly and there is much more to be discovered and applied in these approaches. However, it struck me from a trauma informed application -- of course the actions make sense, its based on practiced belief systems developed by the frontal part of the brain that was in genesis from internalized nervous system response based on events. Event, Experience, Effect.

Event - the thing that did (or did not) happen. Accidental, intentional, peripheral, direct, indirect, or outside ones control. These are factors to be considered in the events.

Experience -- the nervous system is imprinted on a pre-verbal level and is the first system to respond prior to logical thinking and rational processing. Remember, the nervous system is the first one developed in utero and is subject to imprint even at this stage. Rational thinking, verbal processing, critical thinking, and beliefs did not come along until the development of our pre-frontal cortex.

Effect -- Our behaviors start to show up in various ways. We develop a 'personality' that others become accustomed to seeing and responding to. We act a different way and its called 'acting out' or 'acting out of character'.

So, thoughts to beliefs. Thinking about a belief as being a thought that is practiced over and over again with no interruption of challenging, it is easier to understand how this relationship occurs. An example might be I think the wall I am looking at is purple (its actually white) and I rehearse the thought that its purple over and over again AND do not share this with anyone else, I am subject to create a belief based on my thoughts. Later on (and assuming this practice has been going on for quite a while), someone else shows up and says 'Oh, what a lovely white wall', I may have a multitude of experiences and effects based on my belief being different.

So, lets try this another way. Person A has a belief that 'Nothing good ever happens'. Their emotional experience may be one of sadness, disappointment, and despair. Their behaviors may show up as isolation, withdraw, and lack of self-care. Its the belief that catches my attention. 'Nothing good ever happens'. I am curious how this belief has shown up in other parts of the individual experience. This belief just didn't come from out of the ether. Its been practiced, reinforced, and experienced. Its rooted in a trauma response.

The beliefs we hold are an example of the practice of believing what we believe and in the absence of challenging, support, or contrary information, our actions will continue to reflect.

In the absence, we are left to believe the only evidence we have. Ourselves. In our growing up, we may be repeating this. How many of our belief patterns of ourselves, others, and the world are rooted in experiences or inexperiences from the development of our pre-verbal, pre-cognitions state?