Core Belief Reset: Rewiring the Inner Terrain of Body, Mind & Spirit

When I was serving as a missionary, my spiritual mentor—who had studied under a Coptic monk—taught me to feed and expand the spirit by proclaiming scripture over every part of my being: body, soul, spirit, and mind. Not abstract theology—embodied practice. Breath and spoken truth. Prayer placed gently on the tissues that were holding old stories.

That seed changed how I understand healing. Over time I noticed the same pattern surfacing in different languages:

in Caroline Leaf’s work on neuroplasticity and “Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess,”
in Bessel van der Kolk’s research on trauma and the body (The Body Keeps the Score),
in the felt reality of myofascial release, lymphatic flow, and dynamic stretching that help the body “let go,”
and in functional/terrain models (Root Cause Protocol, mineral balance, iron recycling, circadian rhythm) showing that biochemistry, nervous system safety, and belief are braided together.

I’ve always been a questioner and a pattern-spotter. The more I listened—to my own body and to clients—the clearer it became: core beliefs shape physiology. When we reset the inner script, the body can finally exhale and heal.

Why Core Beliefs Matter in Healing

Core beliefs aren’t just “thoughts.” They’re deeply wired assumptions your nervous system runs on—often formed in childhood or in moments of shock/trauma. Neuroscience calls this neuroplasticity: repeated thoughts become well-worn pathways the brain chooses more easily over time. Trauma research shows those patterns are embodied—in breath, posture, fascia tone, lymph stagnation, gut function, and even immune activity.

From a terrain perspective (functional + RCP lens), belief influences biology: stress chemistry shifts minerals; mineral shifts alter enzymes; enzymes drive energy and repair. Even debates like ferritin and iron remind us: numbers outside of context mislead. Terrain is the symphony—minerals, hormones, sleep, digestion, emotions, microbes, and yes, the story you live inside.

Core Belief Reset (Verbal Anchor)

A spoken anchor that shifts your biology toward safety and restoration—speaking truth your body can rise to meet.

Breathe this in:

“My body is designed to heal and thrive.”

Somatic + Fascia + Lymph: When the Body Remembers

If a belief whispers “I’m not safe,” your body doesn’t just think fear—it prepares: tight jaw, braced diaphragm, clenched pelvic floor, cool hands, shallow breath. Fascia holds the pattern. Lymph slows. The vagus nerve stays on alert.

Gentle myofascial release, lymphatic brushing/drainage, and dynamic stretching can unwind the imprint so the new belief has space to land. Pair that with slow breath and a verbal anchor (truth spoken out loud), and you’ve just done nervous system work, somatic work, and spiritual work in one.

In German New Medicine, a signal of resolution is often laughter—when the story reframes from threat to safety, the body can finally complete a cycle.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” — Proverbs 17:22 (NRSV)

Sensory Anchor — Smell, Sight & Stillness

A gentle sensory practice to deepen embodiment and amplify the inner reset:

Choose a calming scent—perhaps lavender, frankincense, or bergamot—either diffused or on a cloth.
Light a candle, allowing the flickering flame to become a visual focal point.
Settle into your breath, inhaling the aroma as you watch the dance of light.
Invite your verbal anchor or scripture (e.g., “My body is designed to heal and thrive”) as you breathe in and out, allowing the scent to ground the truth deeper into your body.
When ready, you might layer in EFT tapping or somatic release, carrying the sensory calm with you as you tap or stretch.

This blend of olfactory cues, soft visual focus, breath, and sacred speech creates a multi‑sensory field of safety and embodiment—offering the body multiple gateways to rewire from threat to renewal.

EFT Tapping: Anchoring Truth Through Rhythm

Another somatic practice that pairs beautifully with a verbal anchor is EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques). By rhythmically tapping on specific acupressure points while speaking truth out loud, you help the nervous system register safety on a deeper level. Trauma researchers note that patterned touch and bilateral stimulation calm the amygdala and reinforce new neural pathways—giving your body a chance to “believe” the new script.

A simple way to try it:

Choose your anchor phrase or scripture (e.g., “My body is designed to heal and thrive”).
Gently tap through the sequence of points—karate chop (side of hand), eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, under nose, chin, collarbone, under arm, and top of head—while repeating your phrase.
Breathe slowly as you move through the points. Notice if jaw, chest, or belly softens as the words begin to land.

I often practice this myself while proclaiming scriptural truth—and sometimes with my children. It’s a way of weaving safety, faith, and rhythm into the body at once.

EFT doesn’t replace prayer, fascia work, or mineral inputs—it amplifies them. Think of it as giving your nervous system a gentle drumbeat to carry truth deeper into the tissues.

Faith + Neuroplasticity: Two Lenses, One Reality

Scripture has always named what neuroscience now documents: the mind can be renewed.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 (NRSV)

Every proclamation of truth fires and wires a new pathway; every release in fascia and breath reinforces it. This is not “positive thinking.” It’s embodied discipleship—training your nervous system to live from safety and peace.

Other passages that speak into this reset for me are Philippians 4:6–7, which reminds me of peace guarding my mind, and John 15:4–5, the call to abide in the Vine.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” — Henry Ford

Core Belief Reset — A Gentle Practice You Can Start Today

Spot the old script
- Ask: What am I believing about myself or my body right now?
- Examples: “I’m broken.” “I’ll always be tired.” “My body is unsafe.”
Somatic check-in + release
- Where do I feel this in my body (jaw, chest, gut, pelvis)?
- Try 2–5 minutes: myofascial release (ball or gentle tool), lymph brushing, or dynamic stretch with slow exhale.
Verbal anchor (speak the new truth)
- Choose one sentence (paired with scripture if you wish):
- “My body is safe.” “My cells are learning rest.” “I am being renewed.”
- Read your chosen verse aloud (e.g., Romans 12:2). Let it land on the breath. (You can gently tap through the EFT sequence while speaking healing truth aloud.)
Reinforce with rhythm (terrain inputs)
- Morning sun + grounding (circadian + vagal tone)
- Mineral-rich hydration (magnesium, whole-food C, copper via foods)
- Protein-forward meals (steady blood sugar calms the nervous system)
- Sleep window 10–2 (deep repair)
- Gentle movement (walking, Pilates, strength—as energy deposits)
Reflect + rejoice
- Notice micro-shifts: easier breath, softened jaw, a small laugh, more warmth in hands. These are physiology changing—evidence your inner terrain is responding.

A Word on Docs, Debates & Discernment

In my own journey, I’ve been deeply blessed by the insights of functional practitioners, and I continue to learn from their expertise. At the same time, I’ve felt called to build my practice on the foundations of terrain-based living: restoring digestion, balancing blood sugar, supporting mineral status, and tending to the nervous system. These are the fertile soils into which any advanced intervention can take root. My approach doesn’t reject the tools of functional medicine—it honors them—while choosing to begin with the body’s God-designed foundations of healing.

You are not a number on a lab. You are a symphony—and your inner story is first chair.

“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” — Psalm 1:3 (NRSV)

A Core Belief Reset is not about ignoring reality; it’s about training your body to interpret reality from safety rather than survival. With each breath, stretch, proclamation, and night of real sleep, your inner terrain changes. Healing becomes more than possible—it becomes probable.

🌿 Brenna May, NTP

Holistic Nutritional Therapy Practitioner • Functional Wellness

📝 Apply to work with me

This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.

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Footnotes & Sources

[^S1]: Romans 12:2 (NRSV). Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A2&version=NRSV

[^S2]: Proverbs 17:22 (NRSV). Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17%3A22&version=NRSV

[^S3]: Psalm 1:1–3 (NRSV). Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1%3A1-3&version=NRSV

[^1]: Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself. New York: Viking. (Overview: https://www.normandoidge.com)

[^2]: van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. New York: Viking. (Publisher page: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/226066)

[^Q1]: Ford, H. (attrib.). “Whether you think you can…” (Multiple collections; example discussion: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/10/23/think-you-can/)

EFT Tapping
A 2022 study published in Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing used brain imaging to show that Emotional Freedom Techniques, commonly known as EFT tapping, produced measurable changes in neural activation among people suffering from chronic pain. ScienceDirect

Emotional Aromatherapy
A 2023 review in Molecules reported that essential oils can influence the nervous system by promoting neurite outgrowth, altering neurotransmitter receptors, and providing neuroprotective effects — all mechanisms linked to the brain’s ability to rewire itself. MDPI

Sensory Anchors (like a lit candle)
New research published in 2025 in Building and Environment found that exposure to plant-based aromas indoors, such as from scented candles, affects emotional recovery and brain activity, showing how simple sensory anchors can shift neural patterns. ScienceDirect

Additional reading:

Leaf, C. (2021). Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. (Author site: https://drleaf.com)
Dr. Meshreky, Atef. (~2008) Prayers and Prophesying: Build Up Your Inner Man (https://a.co/d/5rrkZw6)
The Root Cause Protocol Institute (Morley Robbins): https://therootcauseprotocol.com