CHAPTER 3 | PRACTICE
WHAT DID YOU
LEARN TO BELIEVE
ABOUT YOURSELF?
A self-diagnostic practice for identifying childhood programs and the messages that shaped your self-image.
SAME MESSAGES.
A DISTORTED REFLECTION.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
A DISTORTED REFLECTION.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
SAME BOY. DIFFERENT STORY.
IT’S TIME TO SEE YOURSELF TRULY.
LOOK DEEPER
Notice the messages you received in childhood — directly or indirectly through words, behavior, expectations, criticism, or silence.
RECOGNIZE PATTERNS
See how these messages may have shaped your self-image, choices, relationships, and behavior today.
PREPARE FOR CHANGE
Use this practice for self-observation and as a preparation for deeper therapeutic work.
This exercise is not about changing everything on your own.
Its purpose is to help you recognize patterns and formulate a clearer request for therapy.
Its purpose is to help you recognize patterns and formulate a clearer request for therapy.
INSIDE THE PRACTICE
CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
Identify which messages feel
familiar from your childhood
experience.
Identify which messages feel
familiar from your childhood
experience.
THE WORDS THAT SHAPED
MY SELF-IMAGE
Explore phrases, labels or comments
you heard — and the beliefs you may
have formed about yourself.
MY SELF-IMAGE
Explore phrases, labels or comments
you heard — and the beliefs you may
have formed about yourself.
MY SELF-IMAGE MAP
Reflect on the patterns you notice
and the areas you’d like to explore
further (with a therapist).
Reflect on the patterns you notice
and the areas you’d like to explore
further (with a therapist).
3
2
1