CHANGING OUR PATTERNS

12:06 AM Posted by MS.NOVA

"If you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always gotten."

-Tony Robbins

This is the year we get serious about our lives. This is the year where the excuses stop paving our path to disappointment. This is the year action and intention fuel our progress. You might have resisted this process for 20, 30 or even 40 years, and all the more reason get on it. On the other side of resistance is reward so if you are dreading the dirty work of facing your own life, imagine the impact of the finished product if you start today.

Think of where you could be by summer!

We have to take inventory of our negative patterns and that includes a long look at this "hamster wheel-o-sabotage" we continually hop on. Be brutally honest and be as objective as possible.

(If it gives you any comfort, I'm doing this too.)

If you were a friend of yours, what advice would you give to you?
Listen to the advice you give others - do you practice what you preach?
What do you need to get serious about? Where do you start?
What/who is blocking you from your goals?
Is your life lived for yourself or others? What do you do for yourself?
What do you get out of not pursuing your dreams?

If you don't know, didn't try to answer or couldn't answer - quit screwing around. Dig deeper. Its YOUR life.

If you did answer everything, pat yourself on the back for being honest with yourself and examine those answers to determine what can be improved.

That last question in a toughie. I'm learning that we don't shift our patterns because we ultimately gain something by staying "stuck" primarily, pleasure or pain.

"If I stay stuck, I won't have to risk failing." (pleasure).

"If I stay stuck, then people will continue to help me feel better." (pleasure)

"I stay stuck because my family is stuck and I don't want to leave them." (pain)

Any of this sound familiar?

Fear is the bad guy here. As a visual person (with an active imagination) it has helped me to put a face on that fear. Consider it another 'alter ego' a la "Sasha Fierce/Beyonce". Give fear a name and listen to her when she starts nattering on and on. Always remember that voice is not YOU, its FEAR. Her outfits change from rationalization (as to why its o.k to take no action), to procrastination (why your goals are not important right now) to laziness, distraction, doubt and a closet full of horrendous outfits.

Again, fear is not real. She is simply a louder then the voices who say, "nice work", "you got this", and "go for it". Once we step back and see our patterns, we can formulate a 'counter attack'. Take a moment to confront fear for what she is and get those 'good voices' hyped up. "I know what you're up to fear. I'm not falling for that again.'

check the patterns. take a brief life inventory. give fear a face, remember its not real.

Will this be hard, will this take practice, will this be worth it? Y-E-S.

"Don't wait. The time will never be 'just right'."