Rewriting False Beliefs Exercise

Rewriting false beliefs is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It's a great exercise that can help you find truth amongst the lies your mind tells you.

What is CBT?

CBT stands for cognitive behavioral therapy and combines talk therapy with rewriting cognition to help adjust behavior. In other words, CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps a patient rewrite their beliefs, thoughts and habits to help them correct or alter behavior to something that is more desired.

Where anxiety is concerned, CBT works to rewrite memories and beliefs about the things that trigger someone’s anxiety so that the individual can more easily go about their day.

What is the Rewriting False Beliefs Exercise?

Using two columns: In the first column, you write any false (or negative) beliefs you have. Once you have your list, go item by item, cross out the false belief, then write a true (or positive) belief in the next column.

False/Negative Belief	True/Positive Belief
EXAMPLE – Everyone is making fun of my technique in the gym.	Other people in the gym are more concerned with the exercise they’re doing and sometimes they get bored, and their eyes simply wander.

Woman rewriting her false beliefs.