How to Change Your Beliefs (And Why That Matters) – with Shelly Lefkoe
On this episode of The Breakout, we sit down with Shelly Lefkoe, belief expert, transformational coach, and co-founder of The Lefkoe Institute, to unpack the invisible patterns that shape our lives. If you’ve ever felt stuck, sabotaged your own success, or carried emotional baggage that just won’t quit, Shelly has one message for you: Your beliefs are the box, and it’s time to break out.
Through her decades of work helping clients eliminate deep-rooted emotional and behavioral patterns, Shelly has developed a proven process that leads to lasting change. In this episode, she walks us through that process, showing us how beliefs are formed, how they silently drive our decisions, and, most importantly, how they can be dissolved.
Meet Shelly Lefkoe
Shelly Lefkoe is the co-founder of The Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco Bay Area firm with a bold mission: “To significantly improve the quality of life on the planet.” She’s helped thousands of people around the world release long-held patterns, from phobias to procrastination, toxic relationships to self-doubt, and everything in between.
Shelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, Leeza, and other major media outlets. She’s also the author of Parenting the Lefkoe Way, a powerful guide to raising confident, self-aware children. A passionate international speaker and workshop leader, Shelly is deeply committed to helping people live free from the limitations they never chose in the first place.
Beliefs Are the Box: Understanding the Lefkoe Method
“Beliefs are like a box,” Shelly explains. “If you believe men can’t be trusted, then trusting a good man isn’t even a possibility in that box.”
What makes Shelly’s approach unique is how clearly she separates patterns from beliefs—and how she helps people trace their struggles back to the beliefs they think they saw as children. These core beliefs (“I’m not good enough,” “I’m not important,” “Life is hard”) become invisible rules that limit every part of our lives.
The Lefkoe Method works by dissolving these rules. Not challenging them. Not managing them. Eliminating them.
Shifting What’s Possible: Real Stories of Transformation
Shelly shares powerful client stories that demonstrate how much we carry—and how freeing it can be to let go.
- A woman in her 70s, carrying trauma from childhood abuse, eliminates the belief “I’m damaged goods”—and feels decades of pain lifted.
- A multimillionaire CEO realizes his belief “What makes me good enough is achieving” is costing him a relationship with his children.
- Harvard PhDs reveal their inner shame: “I’m stupid”—rooted in childhood teasing and trauma—and finally release it.
Each breakthrough starts with one question: What else could it mean?
Why Meaning Matters
Shelly teaches that events have no inherent meaning—we assign the meaning ourselves. Your boss frowns and you think, I’m getting fired. A friend doesn’t text back and you think, They don’t like me. These interpretations fuel emotional reactions—but they’re not facts.
Once you separate the event from the story, you gain choice. That’s where freedom lives.
Guest’s Inspiring Takeaways
Shelly’s personal transformation is just as powerful as her clients’. Despite a loving upbringing, she carried beliefs like “I’m not capable” and “What makes me good enough is having other people think well of me.” When she let them go, she became more authentic, more confident, and more at peace.
“I became my authentic self. That voice in my head? Gone.”
Whether it’s fear, perfectionism, or the constant drive to prove your worth, Shelly reminds us: You weren’t born with those beliefs—and you don’t have to keep them.
Exclusive Listener Offer
Shelly is offering Breakout listeners a free belief elimination session and a mindset call for the first 15 people who reach out!
Go to @shellylefkoe on Instagram and message the code Breakthrough25 to claim your session.
Summary & Reflection
If you’ve ever thought, I know what to do, but I still don’t do it, this episode is for you. Shelly Lefkoe shows us that lasting change isn’t about willpower, it’s about beliefs. And once you eliminate the false truths you’ve internalized, everything becomes possible.
For anyone ready to break the cycle, create real transformation, and finally step into a life of freedom, this conversation is a must-listen.
About The Breakout Podcast
Dive into transformative tales of personal growth with The Breakout Podcast by Abbracci Group’s thought leaders, Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. Join them bi-weekly –MONTHLY as they chat with inspiring guests who offer practical insights on breaking boundaries, boosting confidence, and living boldly. Subscribe today to listen to our upcoming episodes filled with inspiration, motivation, and practical advice to help you unleash your full potential!
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