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Repeating unhelpful patterns and how to change

managing change
1. Repeating unhelpful patterns and how to change
2. Can talking change anything?
3. How do we adapt to change? Reflections from Covid 2020.
4. Can you Change your Perspective?
Edited large nautilusThe lovely nautilus image reflects the natural cycles or spirals of development and growth whereby we re-visit old, repetitive, unconscious psychological patterns. With raised self-awareness and increasing insights – through therapy for instance – these patterns can gradually evolve and transform.


In other words, if we can become more conscious of our feelings, thoughts and actions we can free ourselves to make better choices the next time around; and to act according to our true nature rather than being determined by past experiences.  The following anonymous poem demonstrates this cycle:

1.   I walk down the street

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in
I am lost… I am helpless… it isn’t my fault
It takes forever to find a way out.

2.    I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

3.   I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit.. but,
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

4.   I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

5.    I walk down another street.   

The ‘hole’ is an unconscious self-defeating psychological pattern. The key is to start noticing the patterns, then work towards gaining awareness in the moment. Then conscious choice is possible.
By: Wendy Bramham
July 2014

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