Surely you don't still believe in unicorns?
Of course not! You grew up. Likewise regarding Father Christmas: you might have believed in him when you were very young but as you grew older you discovered how to discern fact from fantasy.
Unfortunately, it's not so easy to discern fact from feelings, because feelings have the real power to create our personal reality - the power of this creative force is blind to fact. If your beliefs have the power of passion then it will be this force that creates your subjective/personal reality - it will just get on with it and give you what you expect!
YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PRAY FOR:
If you believe in God and pray for a loving relationship then you get exactly what you feel; loneliness!
If you wish with all of your heart for wealth then you will create what your heart feels - poverty!
If you thank God for fulfiling you then you will receive grace.
AN EXAMPLE OF CHANGING A BELIEF:
Do you believe that a sense of guilt is necessary? Then is it not the case that you must feel shame and unworthiness? Sure as duck's arses is watertight isn't feeling guilt and shame just plain destructive? Isn't it constructive to believe, instead, that taking responsibility for your actions to bring about a positive result is a lot healthier? Changing this feeling will be far healthier as you'd have more control over your life and you'd be a lot happier!
SOME BELIEFS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT:
DO YOU BELIEVE...
...that life 'happens' to you, mostly outside of your control?
...as you become older you'll become a burden on society?
...life is about the survival of the fittest?
...scientists are objective?
...the only reality is the one relayed to you by your five senses?
USEFUL V'S UN-USEFUL
If you think the above examples of belief are true then you aren't on your own - most people take these beliefs for granted! All of them, however, can be disproved.
FOR EXAMPLE: 'the only reality is the one relayed to you by your five senses!':
This is patent nonsense because our senses are extended by technology, also, some animals have extended or different senses to humans, therefore it follows that they'll experience a different reality to humans. Probably a more 'useful' version is:
'My senses relay to me a limited version of reality'.
MODIFYING PERSONAL BELIEFS
I don't deserve good things!
I am unlovable!
My parents have damaged me!
I always choose the wrong relationships!
I cannot trust people!
I have to fight for what I want!
I never have any money! Etc, etc.!
If you desire a loving partner but believe you're unlovable, then your wishes are likely to remain unfulfilled. The reason is you feel unlovable, and it's the feeling that has the power, not your wishes or prayers. When you examine this belief through the clear lens of logic and reason you will realise that not only is it an 'un-useful' belief, but also it's untrue! Discovering this either frees you from the belief or allows you to modify it, for example, 'I have love to give'.