In my last blog, I talked about a different kind of R&R for the soul, which is Recovering from records of the past that devalue our God-given identity and Restoring the truth about who we are. I gave 4 Keys to achieving R&R that allow us to experience harmony and peace from the inside out. Today, I’m focusing on the first key, which is Recognizing Patterns of thought and reactions that block our R&R.
God created the world to function in patterns and cycles. Likewise, our mind and body are designed to run efficiently through patterns and cycles, many of which run on autopilot. Our brain automatically records and looks for patterns from the past that give us a grid for learning and creating a sense of safety and structure. The challenge is that our brain doesn’t distinguish between healthy and unhealthy habits and even the undesirable ones easily become so familiar and natural that we accept them as part of who we are. Even when we do recognize them as unhealthy, we often feel powerless to change, or we are afraid to get out of our comfort zone, despite the negative outcomes. The path of least resistance directs us to escape from facing our problem patterns, delaying the real solution to experiencing more harmony and peace. For instance, we learn that using alcohol, or some other substance like food, provides instant relief. Before long, grabbing the sugary or fatty foods or going right to the alcohol after work to relieve stress or buffer negative emotions we have about our marriage or our lack of fulfillment in life becomes our “go-to”. Excessive social media, gaming, and work are other sources that numb the heart of the matter and prevent us from recognizing the patterns to recover and restore the soul.
We are not created to allow every pattern to run on autopilot. God has given us the ability to take an active role in recognizing what patterns of thinking and reacting are limiting us from becoming the best version of ourselves, and then intentionally choosing to change. One of the core values I learned years ago in coach training is self-awareness increases the quality of life. We cannot change what we are not aware of, so one of God’s most powerful antidotes to bring us out of repeating the same undesirable cycles is through mindfulness and reflection. It is like working out the muscles of your mind, and just like physical exercise, it gets easier the more it becomes a practicing lifestyle. On the contrary, avoiding this practice is like being trapped in a maze of confusion with no clear way out. As I work with clients to sort through the confusion of their challenges and conflicts, deeper thinking and reflection always leads them to unlock the belief structures that are keeping any unhealthy patterns in place.
As a counselor and life coach who specializes in Emotional Intelligence, Addiction, and other unhealthy cycles, I offer clients the tools they need to recognize ineffective patterns and develop the skills of reflection that lead to a life of thriving, not just surviving. If you feel stuck in destructive patterns of behavior in your life that are unsatisfying and keeping you in the struggle of existence, it’s time to recover and restore your soul so you can experience the peace and joy of the fulfilling life you were intended to live.
-Andra