Life cycles through various shifts and changes, whether we want them or not. This is the very thing that forces us into new situations that we may not have pursued without a little nudge from the universe. Sometimes we are confronted with situations that make us feel conflicted, and we have to work through arguments of two or more sides to the story. Other times, the truth is so crystal clear that we would still be able to see it with blind eyes. Why is it that humans can sometimes continue to stick to the same story, repeating the same mistakes, and manifesting the same cycles that have never worked from day one? Why is it attractive to stick to the same storyline of behaviors and beliefs that do not support us in achieving our ultimate goals and desires? Psychologists say that it is because of an unhealthy ego. We get stubborn and set in our ways, and decide that protecting the ego is more important than choosing personal and collective peace and freedom.
Many people share the same patterns of choosing to only pay attention to parts of reality. This is using "cognitive shortcuts" to focus on the reality desired instead of the actual one that is happening. Experts have studied the "lazy brain" theory that we can change our reality in our mind in order to keep ourselves in a loop of repetitive behaviors that cause us to continue making the same mistakes over and over again. It is a way for us to avoid changes that we may fear making. It is also a way to hide behind choices that are not good for us in order to avoid confronting the difficult truth. To the brain, protecting the ego is the most important thing. If we stay attached to an unhealthy ego, can we ever really grow into our highest potential?
Freud studied this same phenomenon and found that our drive to repeat the same mistakes over and over again comes from a belief that we will get different results somehow from the same behavior. Others have noted that it becomes a habit to keep driving down "mistake highway" because the brain will assume that our mistakes were actually the best ways to handle things - or the only way we could've handled them. We continue to lie to ourselves in order to cope with our choices, and the cycle continues.
So, we can try to understand why we can easily repeat mistakes, but what can we do about it? To begin with, awareness is the first step. By facing it, we are able to learn from it. This is how people grow and become much more successful the next time. It is not okay to only focus on our mistakes, and never recognizing the dozens of amazing things we have done as well. This is not an action intended on creating guilt, shame, or blame, but instead as information to use for the future. It is about avoiding the extremes to either never acknowledging a mistake, to over-emphasizing our mistakes. Both of these extremes are toxic in moving forward. After we understand where we continue to fail, we can implement new goals and create a new behavior patterns through repetition. When we feel stuck, the first place we have to attend to is the mind. The breath is the hypnotist of the mind. By conscious breathing, chanting, and meditating, we can actually change the brain and shift old and limiting thoughts and beliefs to those that will serve us in a healthy, productive, and successful ways. Whatever the "triggers" may be that can lead us back into those destructive cycles, meditation can completely shift us into living in more constructive cycles. Starting with 5-10 minutes a day and moving toward an hour or more when needed, a daily practice is medicine for the mind. Simply being mindful of the breath throughout the day can be completely life-changing. Start simply and see how it works for you.
Blessings come out of new beginnings, and during this waxing moon, we are able to shift those old cycles and create new and more efficient ones for our highest and greatest good. Have the courage to choose the freedom to be your highest self. This comes with the ability to confront the limiting aspects of your life and choose the high road when you don't always believe it is possible. Take a step off of the wheel to get centered in self-Love. This is a wonderful time of year to recharge, reset, and renew for the coming months and years ahead - so go for it!
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