Thryvelabs

Daily Drop

Breaking old patterns.

How do we break old patterns that tie us to past versions of ourselves?

Here’s a few things i’ve learned as I focus on breaking old, unhelpful patterns in my own life.

The first step is observation and awareness. There’s a small space between thoughts and actions, this is where change happens.

When we have a thought or urge that leads us to an old way of being, we have a choice to act or to be still. It is in that moment when we decide to make a vote for our future selves, or revert back to old habitual behaviours.

Change is uncomfortable because it is unfamiliar. But that discomfort is where we begin to actually make new choices and create new possibilities and opportunities.

Another way to free ourselves from the cycle of unconscious behaviours is letting go. It’s easy and obvious in principle but difficult in reality.

We observe the pull to slip back into our old ways, we feel the urge and the desire, but we choose to let it go. Consciously. We choose to say no to the instant gratification and decide to move forward with the action that will benefit our future selves.

That can mean letting go of those “comfort foods” that actually make you uncomfortable and insecure. It can mean choosing to not light that cigarette or buy that alcohol.

Often these things that we reach for to sooth our minds are the same things that are causing problems in the first place. It’s a vicious cycle. We can only break the cycle in the here and now. In the present moment.

My final tip on this topic for today is: Replacement. Nature abhors a vacuum.

We can’t expect to just drop bad habits without consciously replacing them with a healthier alternative. It may work temporarily though sheer will and “ white knuckling it” with great effort.

Unfortunately the progress we make usually unravels over time as life and difficult experiences often get in the way, and before we know it we’re right back in that cycle we swore we wanted to get out of.

Examples of replacement are, going for a walk in nature instead of to the dispensary. Choosing to put the phone down and pick up a book instead of doomscrolling for another hour. It can mean listening to a podcast and working out instead of picking up the video game controller or the TV remote.

When we implement and apply this information we will begin to see lasting changes in our mental and physical well being. But this is not an easy or overnight experience. It takes time and discipline as well as trust that putting in the effort to change will be worthwhile.

The slow challenging nature of this transformation is the reason most people never truly achieve lasting change despite claiming they desperately want to.

But you don’t have to let that be you.

My question for you today is what old habitual patterns and cycles do you want to be free from?

I sincerely hope this information helps you in taking that first step in transforming your reality and building a better future for yourself.