I'm looking for a positive word or phrase - though ideally, a single word - that suggests that old dubious beliefs are being re-examined and questioned. "Self-doubt", has a negative connotation and I would like this to indicate a sort of personal growth.
For example, it could describe someone who used to be paranoid and believe that everyone was conspiring against them learning to become more trusting.
Perhaps self-questioning, self-examination, self-analysis or introspection are somewhere near the target?
The belief is being looked at more critically and with more discrimination leading to it being applied less blindly.
Through being less blinkered, they have stopped seeing everything through the lens of the belief and have stopped applying it quite so over-enthusiastically and are now more discerning in its use.
Their fervour (fervor AmE) has diminished, to be replaced by a more considered approach.
Maybe this has come from an increase in personal humility?
The term awaken can mean
To become aware of something: He finally awakened to the fact that he was wrong.
[Webster's New World Dictionary]
