You might be asking yourself, what are old patterns? An old pattern can be anything from an old postural holding in your body. Perhaps when you were growing up you hit your growth spurt first and were one of the tallest kids in class. This may have made you uncomfortable or insecure so in an effort to appear smaller, you hunched over. In your adult life, you have noticed this pattern and worked to allow yourself to stand up-right. But there might be times, when you notice yourself hunching over again, perhaps in circumstances where you feel uncomfortable and don’t want to be seen, or perhaps on occasions when you are simply tired.
Old patterns can also come up in our thoughts and emotions. For example, when you were growing up maybe you had siblings who performed better than you academically or athletically. Because of this, you may have had habitual thoughts playing in your head of, ‘I’m not enough’ or that you were lesser than. As an adult, you may notice these same thoughts creeping in from time-to-time in different situations.
Old patterns can hold us back from reaching our true, full potential. When we are caught in the cycle of a pattern, we are not able to show up as a leader, whether that be in our career or business or within our own family. Thus, we are not able to have the impact we desire.
Below are 4 Ways to Be with ‘Old’ Patterns When They Re-emerge:
1. Notice
This, in my opinion, is the most important step. The ability to be aware enough to notice when old patterns emerge. You may notice old patterns re-emerging in your physical posture, perhaps old habitual ways of holding yourself or moving your body. You also may notice old behaviors or habits emerging again.
2. Allowance and Acceptance
After you notice an old pattern coming back into your life, the next step is to let go of any judgement you may have about that pattern’s re-emergence. Let it be OK. You are not wrong. The postural pattern, behavior, habit, or thought is not wrong. It simply is. Let go of the need to label the pattern. Simply notice the pattern. And with that noticing, allow it to be.
3. Space
When working with clients, I often find if they have been traveling a great deal or are working extra hard at work, old postural patterns re-emerge. One of the main reasons for this is because they are tired. They are worn too thin, so their body goes back to its resource, its known place.After you notice an old pattern coming back, it is important that you give yourself the space to receive extra rest. If you are out and about in your day, give yourself the space by setting a timer and meditating for 10-minutes, or perhaps simply closing your eyes in your car for a few minutes. As I have found super useful for skiing, you can simply stop, take a moment and take some nice deep breaths, and allow greater ease to forth come from within.
4. Choice
After you notice an old pattern, acknowledge it without labeling, and give yourself the space to breathe, you are now in a beautiful spot. You now have the opportunity to make a different choice.If it is an old postural pattern re-emerging, you can invite your body to greater ease through movement and breath. If it is an old habit, such as eating excess sugar and sweets when you feel stressed out or tired, you have the opportunity to make a different choice. You could instead simply take a nap or go for a walk.With time, the more you are able to follow these steps and make a choice, instead of falling down the rabbit hole of old patterns and habitual ways of being, the easier it will become for you.