You can try to recall the earliest and most memorable event from your childhood—an event that can encompass the entire trajectory of your life. This is actually the Early Recollections technique in Adlerian psychology. Adler believed that the most vivid fragments in a person's early memories are not randomly retained, but are actively chosen by the subconscious. Early memories can reflect how a person views the relationship between themselves and the world. So he said, "Tell me a childhood memory, and I can tell you how you approach your life."

If your type of memory is about being ignored or not responded to, your underlying belief may be "I am not seen," and as an adult, you might tend toward excessive people-pleasing and anxious attachment. If your memories are of being blamed or compared, your belief may be "I am not good enough," and as an adult, you might struggle with perfectionism, self-doubt, or overexertion. If your memories are of taking care of younger siblings or helping others, your underlying belief may be that your value lies in giving and being needed, and as an adult, you might develop a people-pleasing personality and neglect your own needs.

The purpose of the Early Recollections technique is to help us better understand ourselves, to bring our subconscious to the surface, so that we can break old cycles and reinterpret, choose, and reshape the way we approach the world.