Why on Earth Do Fire Engines Go ‘Nee-Naw!’? – And What Else Have You Learnt That Just Isn’t True?
Simone Reinhardt is a Sydney-based Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, passionate about helping women overcome burnout, perfectionism and self-doubt. Through her practice, she empowers clients to reconnect with their purpose, inner peace and authentic self.
Ask almost any child what sound a fire engine makes, and chances are, that’s what you’ll hear. But if you’ve ever stood near a real fire engine, you know the actual siren is far more intense, complex, and loud. So where did ‘nee-naw' come from? Most children don’t learn that sound from real life. They learn it from storybooks, cartoons, or a parent mimicking a siren during playtime. It’s adorable and harmless. But it also reveals something deeper about how we learn, and more importantly, how we believe.
What else have we taken at face value?
Much like the ‘nee-naw’ siren, many of our beliefs weren’t formed by firsthand experience or deep critical thought. They were absorbed unconsciously from our environment, childhood stories, cultural messages, family narratives, or repeated phrases like:
“I’m just not a confident person.”
“I always mess things up.”
“People will leave if I’m not perfect.”
“I have to work twice as hard to prove myself.”
“I’m too old / too young / too late.”
We hear these messages often enough, and they become our internal soundtrack, looping quietly beneath the surface of our choices. But here’s the truth:
Just because you learned something doesn’t mean it’s true. And even more importantly, it doesn’t mean you have to keep believing it.
Beliefs are not facts
In Strategic Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy, one of the most empowering concepts we explore is that beliefs are not facts.
They are conclusions we've drawn, often from limited evidence, emotional experiences, or someone else’s version of reality. And yet, they shape our behavior, self-worth, and how we relate to the world.
Much like questioning the ‘nee-naw’ siren sound, we can start to question our mental noise, too.
Here’s how you can start to unlearn limiting beliefs
Ask: “Where did this come from?”
Did I experience this myself, or was I told this by someone else? Was it true then, and is it still true now?
Ask: “What evidence do I have for and against this?”
We’re often experts in collecting proof to support our negative beliefs, but not so good at noticing the exceptions. Start looking for times when this belief wasn’t true.
Ask: “Is this belief helpful?”
Does it move you closer to the life you want? Does it empower you or keep you stuck?
Replace it with something kinder, truer, or more balanced.
Not a sugary affirmation you don’t believe, but a realistic reframe.
For example, instead of “I always get anxious around people,” try:
“Sometimes I feel anxious, and I’m learning to feel more comfortable.”
Neuroplasticity: The brain’s amazing reset button
The beautiful news? Your brain is not fixed. Through the power of neuroplasticity, we now know that thoughts can be rewired, habits can be changed, and deeply embedded beliefs can be reshaped, especially when we work with them consciously, kindly, and consistently.
Hypnotherapy is one powerful way to do this because it helps us bypass the critical, often resistant part of the mind and go straight to the subconscious, the place where many of these “nee-naw” beliefs were stored to begin with.
The takeaway
Just like no one questions the “nee-naw” as a child, many of us never stop to question the old stories we’ve been telling ourselves. But if we want to grow, heal, and change, we must ask:
“Who taught me this?"
“Is it true?”
“Do I still want to carry this?”
Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is unlearn what’s no longer helpful.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to update the sound of your inner siren.
Read more from Simone Reinhardt
Simone Reinhardt, Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
Simone Reinhardt is a Sydney-based Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist dedicated to helping women break free from burnout, perfectionism and self-doubt.
With a compassionate, solution-focused approach, she supports her clients in rewriting limiting beliefs and reconnecting with their authentic selves.
Simone draws from evidence-based practices, hypnotherapy and mindfulness to foster deep emotional healing and sustainable change.
She is passionate about guiding others to feel calm, clear and empowered- both personally and professionally.
Simone’s work is rooted in the belief that when we live in alignment with our values and present-moment awareness, transformation becomes not only possible, but inevitable.
