The Core Organizing Principle: Your Inner Blueprint
Deep within each of us lies a guiding belief system—a subconscious narrative that shapes how we experience the world. This is what I call the core organizing principle. It is the inner model of the world that we carry inside of us. It’s the inner story you’ve been telling yourself for years, often formed in early childhood, that compass for understanding yourself, others, and life itself. It influences our behaviors, relationships, and responses to challenges.
These principles are born from our early attachments and relationships. The way we connected with our caregivers, how safe or seen we felt, and whether we experienced trust or betrayal—these experiences set the foundation for our core beliefs. If you had secure attachments growing up, your inner blueprint might tell you that the world is generally safe, that others can be trusted, and that you have worth. On the other hand, if your attachments were less secure or unpredictable, your core belief may be rooted in fear, mistrust, or feelings of inadequacy.
This principle especially shows up in vulnerable moments—when we’re scared, unsure, or feeling exposed. It’s like an automatic script that runs in the background. For example, if your core belief is “I am not enough,” you may find yourself overworking, overextending, or constantly seeking validation, only to feel disappointed or empty. Similarly, if you hold the belief “I can’t count on anyone,” you may withdraw from relationships or over-rely on yourself, even when you’re desperately in need of support.
Why does this matter? Because these beliefs often become rigid, trapping us in patterns that are hard to break. If your principle is fixed, you may continue to react to life based on outdated, unhelpful narratives—rather than evolving and responding with greater self-awareness. This rigidity can create feelings of isolation, anxiety, or frustration, making it difficult to grow or change.
Defining Health
In a healthy, adaptive state, your core organizing principle is fluid. It can grow and change with life’s circumstances. You can adapt, see new possibilities, and respond to challenges with resilience. But when your principle becomes rigid—when you’re attached to one specific way of being or believing—it creates rigidity in your life. You struggle to adjust, to change, to flow with the inevitable uncertainty of life. And that’s where a lot of unhappiness and dysfunction can come in.
The world is constantly changing. The only real certainty we have is uncertainty and change in the world. If we are static, we are not growing with the evolution of our planet. And if your core principle is fixed, unchallenged, and inflexible, it won’t flow with the intrinsic nature of being human. You’ll find yourself stuck, struggling, or unhappy because your inner model doesn’t match the reality of life’s fluid nature.
Healthy doesn’t mean perfect. Health, in this context, is flexibility. It means you’re able to shift, see different options, and hold space for the complexity of life. It means you can approach challenges with curiosity rather than fear, knowing that your inner world can evolve as the outer world does.It’s about having a core organizing principle that can grow with you, rather than keep you stuck.
Understanding your core organizing principle is the first step to shifting it. It’s about asking whether your inner story still serves you, or if it’s time to challenge and rewrite those outdated beliefs.
Reflection Questions:
When I feel scared, how do I think of the world?
When I feel unsure of myself, what do I say to myself?
Do I see the world as generally safe or unsafe?
What theme do I notice comes up over and over in my life?
Is there a pattern I struggle to change?
Is change hard for me? What do I find most challenging?
In relationships, what scares me more: losing myself or losing the other? Am I more afraid of abandoning myself or being abandoned?
Are you interested in working on your personal development? Are you looking for a life coach or a life consultant? Are you feeling stagnant? Do you want to jumpstart change?
My transformational approach is a process where awareness, alignment, and action work together as catalysts to create momentum for change.
*Awareness is knowing what you genuinely want and need.
*Alignment is the symmetry between our values and our actions. It means our inner and outer worlds match.
*Action is when you are conscious that what you say, do and think are in harmony with your values.
Together we build an understanding of what you want to accomplish, and delve deeply into building awareness around any thoughts and assumptions that you may already have. To truly transform your life, I will empower you to rethink what’s possible for you.
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Learn more about my approach to life consulting and relationship coaching here or get in touch for your free 30-minute consultation here! Don’t forget to follow along @LilyManne on social for more regular updates!
