Quiet Rebellion Field Manual #02: Core Beliefs - Foundations of Self
A Quiet Rebellion Reflection Guide
The Quiet Rebellion Field Manuals are practical tools for Rebels who are ready to realign. They’re not content. They’re invitations - to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the parts of yourself you’ve abandoned in the name of survival, success, or staying afloat.
The Signal
I used to believe that being useful was the same as being lovable. That achievement could earn me belonging. That if I stayed busy enough, no one would notice I was falling apart.
These beliefs weren’t chosen. They were inherited. Hand-me-downs from a culture obsessed with productivity, perfection, and pleasing others.
And for a while, they served me… until they didn’t.
The crash came quietly like a slow unraveling. Not just a breakdown, but a reckoning. When I finally stopped resisting, I started to ask the harder question:
Whose beliefs are these… really?
The Map
Core beliefs are the invisible scripts that run our lives. They're forged in childhood, reinforced by culture, and often left unexamined for decades. They're not always true, but they feel true. Which makes them powerful.
Some common ones I hear from clients:
"I have to be the strong one."
"If I fail, I won’t be safe."
"Rest is lazy."
“I don’t want to let down my team or family.”
"I’m only valuable if I’m achieving."
And here’s the tricky bit:
We don’t just believe these things. We build entire lives around them.
Coaching Notes
You can't change what you don't see. This work begins with awareness. Not judgment. Not fixing. Just naming what’s there.
Core beliefs often show up as inner critics. If your self-talk feels harsh or repetitive, dig into the belief underneath.
These beliefs were formed to protect you. Even the most limiting ones once had a purpose. Honor them. Then ask if they still serve you.
The Insight
Think of a moment recently when you felt stuck, overwhelmed, or activated.
Ask: What story was I telling myself?
Beneath that, ask again:
What would I have to believe about myself or the world for that story to feel true?
Write it down. Sit with it.
Now ask:
Where did this belief come from? Whose voice is it?
You might be surprised how many of your “truths” were never truly yours.
Your Rebellion
The Quiet Rebellion isn’t just about changing jobs or setting boundaries.
It’s about reclaiming the stories you live by.
And replacing the old scripts with ones rooted in truth, not trauma.
You get to choose what you believe. And who you become because of it.
The Alignment
Identify three core beliefs that have shaped your life.
For each one, ask:
Is this true?
Is it helpful?
Do I want to keep believing it?
Craft a new belief to experiment with this week.
Example:
Old: I always have to prove myself.
New: I am enough, even when I’m not performing.
Extended Reflection Prompts: Beliefs in Action
If you want to go deeper, use these journal prompts to explore the roots, impacts, and evolution of your beliefs:
What were the core beliefs instilled in me during my childhood? How have they influenced my life…and have they changed over time?
How do I define my worth? What beliefs do I hold about my inherent value?
What beliefs do I have about love, trust, and relationships? Where did these beliefs come from?
What core beliefs do my role models or people I admire hold that resonate with me?
Do I believe people can change? Why or why not? What does that say about my beliefs around identity and growth?
What beliefs about myself or the world were challenged or reinforced during a difficult time in my life?
Are there any conflicting core beliefs I hold? How do I reconcile them in my daily life?
Optional Deep Dive: Categorize + Evaluate Your Beliefs
For those Rebels ready to go even further:
Step 1: Categorize
Group your beliefs into themes:
Personal (about yourself)
Interpersonal (about others/relationships)
Existential (about life, the world, and the universe)
Step 2: Evaluate
For each belief, ask:
What benefit does this belief offer me?
In what ways might it be limiting me?
Step 3: Rewire
Finish the sentence:
"Because I believe X, I tend to do Y…"
Then try writing a new belief to shift the behavior:
"If I believed Z instead, I might…"
Next Step
This week, choose one belief (big or small) and run it through the prompts above.
Don’t overthink it.
Just ask... what would it look like to move from alignment?
Then take the next step that feels most true to you.
Feel stuck? What’s the very least you can do?
Need help shifting these beliefs consistently?
This is where coaching can be powerful.
Continue the Quiet Rebellion
This is Field Manual 02 of 11.
Each manual builds on the last, guiding you through the full arc of realignment, resilience, and rebellion.
Access all Field Manuals, and other publications to support your own quiet rebellion:
Want to explore this further?
Book a Clarity Call if you’re done resisting, and ready for real change.
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Be Rebellious
In solidarity ✊
Nicholas Whitaker
Human BE-ing and Conscious Leadership Coach → nicholaswhitaker.com
Co-founder → Changing Work
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