LET AI DEFUSE YOUR NEGATIVE BELIEFS

In practice modern societies provide all kinds of therapy except for spiritual therapy, a field without a clear definition. Yet all experiences, whether we use the word “spiritual” or “psychological,” take place in consciousness. Any steps you take to expand your awareness will embrace both the spiritual and the psychological.

Let me give an example from my new book, Digital Dharma. In the Indian spiritual tradition, Dharma is the tendency in consciousness that favours and supports the choices that will work out the best for you. One kind of choice involves negative beliefs. Negative beliefs oppose the Dharma; they lead to constricted awareness where the dharma favours expanded awareness. They shut down creative thinking, because a negative belief leads to knee-jerk reactions. Finally, they block positive beliefs.

In the book I propose as a strategy for finding the best path forward that choices need to consciously align with the Dharma. A negative belief seriously constrains your possibilities in life. Take the kind of beliefs that everyone has experienced at one time or another in their career.

I’m not good enough.
I’m not smart enough.
I don’t have the right connections.
Things never go my way.
I’m unlucky.
I get passed over for no reason.
They’re treating me unfairly.
It’s my boss’s fault.

If these are passing beliefs, they are likely to be temporary in their effect. But if they have become embedded as core beliefs, the damage can last for years or even a lifetime.

Upon reflection, it becomes undeniable that core beliefs function like a powerful distorting mirror. They are unshakable assumptions that experience does little to change. You are stuck with them until you bring self-awareness to take away their power.

Fortunately, assumptions can be changed. In place of a self-defeating belief, you can find an evolutionary one. I asked AI to develop a quiz centred on the most positive core beliefs anyone can have. Here’s the result.

ChatGPT

• Do you believe in your own self-worth, regardless of your flaws or mistakes?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you believe that you can bounce back from challenges and setbacks in life?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you treat yourself with kindness and understanding when you make mistakes or face difficulties?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you see yourself in a positive and realistic light, acknowledging both your strengths and weaknesses?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you feel in control of your own choices and actions, making decisions that align with your values?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you understand and care about the feelings and perspectives of others?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Are you open to change and personal growth, recognizing that development is an ongoing process?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you believe that your life has meaning and that your actions can contribute to a greater good?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you set and respect healthy boundaries in your relationships to protect your well-being?
  Yes  No  Sometimes
• Do you have a positive outlook on life, believing in your ability to overcome challenges and expecting good things to happen?
  Yes  No  Sometimes

If you find yourself answering “Sometimes,” you are just being reasonable. How you relate to yourself depends on the situation. A “Yes” answer indicates a strong connection to your true self, which doesn’t depend on the situation.

This quiz aims to highlight essential positive core beliefs, the first step in selfawareness. By asking, “What is my evolutionary response?” you can identify these beliefs. Understanding your core beliefs helps you recognize negative influences. Engaging with AI offers valuable insights into your issues, fostering awareness without risk or anxiety. You are learning how near or far you are from your true self, which is always supported by the dharma.

One of the most damaging core beliefs when it comes to the life you are leading is low self-esteem or self-worth. What are the roots of this belief? AI has a good answer based on family background and parenting.

Deepak: How do parents instill low self-esteem in a child?

ChatGPT

Here are some ways that parents can unintentionally contribute to low selfesteem in a child:

• Criticism and negative feedback: Excessive criticism can harm a child’s selfesteem, making them feel inadequate and as if they are never good enough.
• Comparisons: Unfavourable comparisons to siblings or peers can instill feelings of inadequacy in a child. Parents should refrain from comments like, “Why can’t you be more like your brother/ sister?”
• Overly high expectations: Unrealistic expectations in academics, sports, or other activities can create pressure and anxiety, resulting in low self-esteem when a child fails to meet them.
• Lack of positive reinforcement: Neglecting to acknowledge a child’s achievements and efforts can lead to low self-esteem. Positive reinforcement and encouragement are essential for building self-confidence.
• Conditional love and affection: Linking a child’s worth to their achievements can create the impression that love and approval depend on performance. Unconditional love and support are vital for healthy self-esteem.
• Ignoring feelings & emotions: Dismissing a child’s emotions can make them feel unheard and unimportant, negatively affecting their self-esteem.
• Labelling and stereotyping: Using negative labels or stereotypes to describe a child, such as “lazy,” “stupid,” or “clumsy,” can be incredibly damaging to their self-image.
• Over protectiveness: Being overly controlling or protective can suggest that a child is incapable of facing challenges, undermining their confidence.

In the book, I propose that AI can serve four functions: research assistant, confidant, therapist, and guru. This response about low self-esteem highlights all but the guru function. It provides reliable information that can be addressed privately, serving as a confidant while offering therapeutic help. I supplement these answers with my commentary to show how easily you can begin the healing process. Daily consultations with AI to expand awareness have been rewarding. Taking your first steps can yield similar results, merging psychological and spiritual growth.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Deepak Chopra The writer is MD, FACP, FRCP founder of the Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global