Beliefs play a critical role in shaping how we perceive and interpret the world. They function as filters that influence how we process information by deleting, distorting, and generalizing experiences. Here’s how this process works:

1. Generalization:

Beliefs are essentially generalizations—they are the rules or assumptions we create based on past experiences. These rules help us navigate life by predicting outcomes based on what we’ve learned before. For example, if someone had a bad experience with public speaking, they might generalize that “I’m not good at public speaking” and apply that belief to future scenarios. Generalizations can be useful for learning, but they can also limit us if they are based on negative or inaccurate experiences, turning isolated events into lifelong constraints.

• Example: A child is bullied in school and decides that “people are mean”. This generalization becomes a rule for how they view others for the rest of their life, even if it was based on one bad experience.

2. Distortion:

Once a belief is formed, it can distort new information to fit that existing belief. Distortion occurs when we interpret new experiences in a way that reinforces our pre-existing beliefs, even when those beliefs are inaccurate or limiting. When people have limiting beliefs, they often twist or interpret new situations to confirm those beliefs, ignoring evidence to the contrary.

• Example: The former student in the story who believed “The World is a cruel place, and people are spiteful”. After that childhood experience, she likely distorted future interactions, assuming negative intentions even in neutral or kind actions, thus reaffirming her belief.

3. Deletion:

Beliefs also cause us to unconsciously delete information that doesn’t align with our pre-existing mental frameworks. When we hold a belief, we tend to ignore or overlook evidence that contradicts it, making it harder to see reality objectively. This process of deletion filters out information that could challenge our beliefs, leaving us stuck in a limited worldview.

• Example: The woman from the story deleted any evidence of kindness, compassion, or goodwill from others because it did not align with her limiting belief that “the world is a cruel place”. Even though there were likely many positive interactions, she unconsciously disregarded them to maintain consistency with her belief.

How Beliefs Act as a Filter:

Beliefs, especially limiting beliefs, can act as powerful filters for how we experience the world:

• They lead us to generalize based on specific experiences, creating rigid rules about how life works.
• They cause us to distort new information to fit into our existing worldview, bending reality to reinforce those beliefs.
• They make us delete opposing evidence, filtering out anything that might challenge or contradict the beliefs we’ve adopted.

This process can become a self-reinforcing loop. When people adopt a limiting belief, they begin filtering their experiences in ways that continually affirm that belief. The woman in the example made a limiting decision (the conclusion she drew as a child) that the world is a cruel place. From that moment on, she distorted future events to confirm her belief while deleting evidence that would have suggested otherwise. Over time, this belief deeply impacted her adult relationships and work life.

Limiting Decisions and Beliefs:

As the story suggests, whenever someone adopts a limiting belief, it usually follows a Limiting Decision—a moment in time when they decided to believe something negative about themselves, others, or the world. Sometimes, these beliefs are passed down or adopted from others, but often, they stem from specific experiences where a conclusion is drawn (even unconsciously) that limits future potential.

Impact of Limiting Beliefs:

The real danger of limiting beliefs, as demonstrated in the story, is how they can impact all areas of life, especially in social and professional contexts. A belief like “the world is a cruel place” can lead to difficulties forming relationships, building trust, and interacting positively in a workplace where collaboration and trust are essential.