Replacing Old Repetitive Patterns

Sometimes you can be blind to a repeated pattern in your life.  You constantly do the same things from your daily habits to your usual routines.  Some of these things can be helpful and beneficial to your overall wellbeing.  But, then there are the repetitive patterns that are actually holding you back from living the life you truly want.  Learn how to replace these old patterns with new healthy habits so that you can start stepping into a new version of you who no longer accepts these patterns as your only way of being.

Patterns

The first step to acknowledge the patterns that you currently have.  Make a list of things you do day in and day out.  Keep track of what you’re doing on a daily basis for a few days.  Notice any repetitive patterns.  These may be things that you’ve done unconsciously for years.  It could be moments where you procrastinate due to fear or taking the easy way out as an escape instead of doing the more difficult tasks to achieve your goals.  These are the old patterns that need to shift.  Also, take inventory on the repetitive patterns that are actually helping you to achieve your goals.  Such as, getting up early, using your planner, meditating, exercising, etc.  Knowing what works and what doesn’t will help you immensely when you begin to replace these old repetitive patterns.

Replace

Now that you know your patterns, it’s time to eliminate and replace the ones that are not helping you to achieve your goals.  Maybe eliminating these patterns is a bit much right now.  If so, cut down and reduce the amount of time you spend taking these unhelpful actions.  Perhaps you need to set a timer on your phone to better manage your time or lock yourself out of certain social media apps, etc.  Think about the things you need to change or do less of in your life in order to get you to where you want to be.  One mindset shift you can use is instead of thinking about how you can get rid of these patterns all together, is to consider how you can add more or spend more time doing things that help you to achieve your goals.  It could be blocking dedicated time to work on your goals, making sure you plan your meals, taking time for self care to rest and recharge so you avoid burn out, etc.  Find ways to do more of the things that do work and do less of what doesn’t so that you can get you to where you want to be in life.

Your Choice

This is all about who you are being.  You can choose to be that person who is stuck in the repetitive old patterns.  Or, you can choose something different for yourself.  When you see an old pattern that’s repeating, you have a choice to either repeat it or you can shed it and release it.  Replace it with a more beneficial pattern.  This is how you’re showing up for your life.  You can either continue the reoccurring pattern or choose to do something else instead.  This usually means stepping into a higher version of yourself.  That version of you does the things necessary to achieve your goals.

Learn From Your Patterns

To step into that higher version of you, use your repetitive patterns as something for you to learn from.  Take a deeper look at these patterns and why you are doing them.  Maybe it’s a safety thing where you’re keeping yourself safe within your comfort zone of what you already know.  Ask yourself, what you’re afraid of happening if you stop this pattern.  Perhaps that’s a fear of failure, judgement, embarrassment, etc.  There is a reason why you’re stuck in this repetitive pattern.  Choose to dig deeper and learn from it.

Your Future

The truth is, the reason this repetitive pattern continues to come up for you is because of where you’re going.  You can’t get to where you’re going by being stuck in this repetitive pattern.  You won’t be able to achieve your goals, vision you have for your future, or what you want to bring into your life if you continue living in this cycle.  You don’t have the luxury of hold onto these patterns anymore.  You have to learn to let go.  You can’t take the old stuff with you where you’re going.  These repetitive patterns are a way to keep you safe and come from a smaller version of you.  It’s not going to serve you moving forward if you want to live your dream life.  This is not the vehicle that’s going to take you where you want to go.  Instead, you’ll just remain on the same carousel or marry-go-round, going in circles and never getting to where you want to go.

It’s time to leave the old repetitive patterns behind.  You can’t take them with you.  Learn to step into a higher version of yourself who realizes that these old repetitive patterns are not serving you.  Learn what you need to move forward and then replace these old repetitive patterns by creating better habits.  Start making a change by focusing on how you can add more or do more of the things that are actually helping you to live the life you want.

Take Action Challenge

The Pattern Breakthrough Challenge

This week, you’re going to identify and interrupt one repetitive pattern that’s been quietly holding you back.

Step 1: Notice the Pattern

For the next three days, pay attention to your habits and routines.

Ask yourself:

• When do you procrastinate?

• When do you distract yourself?

• When do you avoid something important?

Write down one repeating pattern you notice.

Step 2: Identify the Trigger

Ask yourself:

• When does this pattern usually show up?

• What emotion comes before it? (fear, overwhelm, boredom, doubt)

Awareness is what breaks this unconscious repetitive cycle.

Step 3: Choose a Replacement Pattern

Instead of trying to eliminate the pattern completely, choose to replace it with something supportive.

Examples:

• Scroll social media → put down your phone and do some breath work

• Avoid the task → check your to do list and take action with one small step

• Negative self-talk → hype yourself up and remind yourself why your goal is important to you

Your job is simply to interrupt the old loop.

Step 4: Reinforce the New Identity

Each time you break the old pattern, remind yourself with this mantra "I am becoming someone who does things differently."

Small interruptions create massive change over time.

The life you want isn’t created by big, dramatic moments.

It’s created by the patterns and things you repeat doing every single day.

When you change the pattern, you change your life.