Core Issues are what form our perception of the world. It is a deep personal belief in how the world works. 

Usually, Core Issues are not a problem if you live, work, and talk with people who share the same Core Issues. However, since we live in an interconnected, digitalized world, it becomes more likely that you will meet with people who do not share your view and your Core Issues every day.

Core Issues do not cause a triggering moment. A core issue will not make you feel emotional. Therefore Core Issues are most likely not pushing you to change anything. However, just if life’s circumstances make you rethink your values and your view of life, then there might be an emotional activation. 

Due to that emotional activation, we shrink our perception of the world. So we make our world a little smaller so we will not feel that activation and do not have to face actual reality.

Let me give you an example:

If your Core Issue would be “I can only trust myself.” then you can live your life, you can have a job, and also be successful. There might even be great recognition from your peers and your bosses. But if you then get a promotion to become a manager, you need to trust other people. Since your inner belief is that you can only trust yourself, you will feel emotional uneasiness and try to avoid it. Therefore you will either delegate easy and not essential tasks to your directs, or your team will not perform. Alternatively, you might trust the work, but you will double-check everything. This micromanaging might make your directs upset, and your team will not function. Most probably, you will go to your boss and complain about the team because you can’t understand what is happening due to the Core Issue. 

Therefore we can call Core Issues building blocks of our perception.