Did you know that your brain is a prediction machine?

In his book The Experience Machine, Andy Clark describes how our brains work not only by receiving sensory information but by actively predicting what we’ll experience. This isn’t just a mental shortcut—it’s how we organize the world.

But here’s the kicker: when negative Core Unconscious Beliefs are in play, shaped by past trauma or poor treatment, they can hijack this process.

Your Brain’s Predictions and Core Unconscious Beliefs

Imagine your brain as a fortune teller who predicts the world based on past experiences. If you grew up in a chaotic, unkind, or humiliating environment, your brain might predict that:

• The world is unkind or unsafe.
• Love or acceptance must be earned through self-sacrifice.
• Others will dismiss your needs.

These predictions become a mental blueprint for the future, leading you to expect more of the same. Without realizing it, you start interpreting the present through the lens of the past, even when it’s not accurate.

Category Errors and Prediction Errors

Clark explains how the brain uses “category errors” to learn. When something unexpected happens—something that doesn’t fit the prediction—it forces the brain to adjust and see the world more clearly.

Here’s where mindfulness becomes revolutionary. Mindfulness is the practice of recognizing “prediction errors”—moments when the brain’s assumptions about the world are wrong.
For example:

• Someone shows kindness, but your brain predicts rejection.
• A situation feels safe, but your brain expects danger.
• You’re offered support, but your brain assumes you’ll have to go it alone.
• Is this my past speaking, or is this new information?

Mindfulness allows you to pause and ask:This question is the starting point for healing.

Mindfulness as a Tool to Rewire Predictions

Every time you notice a “prediction error” and consciously adjust, you’re rewiring your brain. You’re teaching it to collect new data instead of defaulting to old patterns. Over time, the brain learns that the world isn’t always an unkind Mother or a punishing Father.

This process—backed by emerging neurological research—proves that change is possible. You can shift your perceptions and your life by engaging with the present moment instead of reliving the past.

Try This Today:

Next time you feel triggered or stuck, ask yourself:

1. What is my brain predicting right now?
2. Is there evidence this is true in the present moment?
3. What’s a new way I could interpret this experience?

Every small moment of mindfulness disrupts the old cycle and opens the door to freedom and authenticity.

You don’t have to live by the predictions of a wounded past. With practice, you can teach your brain to see the world as it truly is—right here, right now.