“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.” ~ Paulo Coelho
While nestled in the mountains near Granby, Colorado on the YogaDownload.com retreat this August, a student called her week away a “pattern interrupt.” (That’s us in the picture, having a coaching session “al fresco”).
And indeed, unless one’s regular life consisted of camping in teepees, being served three colorful vegetarian meals per day, receiving Thai massage in a tent in the meadow, hiking to waterfalls, outside yoga twice daily, sipping fine whiskey at the state’s smallest bar, and throwing an impromptu dance party with new friends, then the experience surely interrupted the daily routine.
We all need such breaks in the routine.
There’s something so refreshing and heartening about infusing our senses with different sights, sounds, tastes and smells. Switching things up makes us come alive again, especially when we’ve dug ourselves into a rut of repetition.
A pattern interrupt is a concept popularized by Neuro Linguistic Programming to change a particular thought, behavior or situation.
Over time, we all develop strategies and behaviors that turn into patterns and habits. These patterns and habits are largely unconscious, meaning you do many of them without being aware or at choice. If the pattern of behavior is unhealthy, this can cause you to be stuck and unfulfilled in life. Running the same old behaviors can sabotage close relationships, stunt any career growth, and even cause you to give up on the dreams you once had.
Even if the pattern is healthy, there can still be a feeling of stagnancy and boredom in life.
Sound familiar in any way? Maybe it’s time to implement a pattern interrupt.
What can you implement to change up your routine behaviors and habits? Drive a different route home from work today? Try a new recipe for dinner? Sign up for a fitness challenge or a creative arts class?
A pattern interrupt can come in many forms, but it must start from awareness. Perhaps you aware of redundant repetition, stifling stagnancy or just a sense that you’re not living a life of purpose and happiness. Luckily, life is full of experiences to choose from to break monotony and stagnation. Being stuck in any routine is simply an illusion. Treat yourself to do something different and shake things up in your world. The benefits can be more far reaching that you imagined.
By Elise Fabricant
Elise is a top teacher on YogaDownload.com and life and health coach. Want to have a pattern interrupt with Elise? She's offering several opportunities to treat yourself to a pattern interrupt. If so, please join Elise for any of these pattern interrupting events. Reach out to Elise directly if you believe your life could benefit from any or all of the above pattern interrupting offerings.
14 Day RESET cleanse. Nothing like a cleanse to interrupt your patterns of eating. I’ll be leading a small group through this elimination diet to give the gut a vacation. September 15-October 1, $49.
Yoga and personal growth retreat in Mexico with me March 25-30, 2019. Prices start at $600.
Total Transformation Discovery session on the phone with me. Help me help you out of the rut of your daily life by signing up for a coaching session on the phone with me. Uncover where you’ve been stuck and develop a plan of action to start living a more fulfilled, powerful life. Absolutely FREE!
Practice yoga with Elise now to interrupt any stagnation in your day!
Reset Refuge: Come Home to Yourself with Elise Fabricant