“Truths” evolve from conclusions
First, we form beliefs about ourselves by making conclusions from our experiences. This process begins at a very young age. If our mothers and fathers, for example, held us securely and rocked us when we were frightened and needed reassurance, we might have formed a belief in our lovability and worth. If we were frequently hit as children, we might have formed opposite conclusions about the kind of people we are, focusing more on our being than on our behavior. Each of us has had a lifetime of experiences that contributed to our beliefs about what is true for ourselves.