Break Old Patterns

                                        Make Room For Something New

Sometimes it's the smallest change that makes a big difference. Often times these changes happen by default and without intention, but we can purpose to bring change into our lives. I'd like to suggest making room for new things in your life by getting rid of habits and patterns that no longer serve you. Further I'd like to send you on a bit of an adventure to discover what this might mean for you. Nothing huge, just small ways to find a new perspective. Pick something small and try it for a week. Commit to doing it everyday, not just once. When the week is up, go back to your old way or keep the change. Try something different each week. Do it because it's fun. You may find you've opened your eyes to a new perspective. A fresh look can bring about big changes.

Find a new route to work or someplace else you travel regularly by car. Take the "back roads" when it make sense. Be sure to avoid hours of the day when deer are running or traffic is heavy. You may have to leave the house 10 minutes earlier but that in itself can be a new adventure, right? 

Find a new place to stop for coffee on the way and while your at it order something different. Try herbal tea if you never have, you could stumble on a new favorite.

Get off the bus at a different stop and walk. You may find you enjoy the exercise or you may walk past a music store offering piano lessons or a community center offering yoga classes. If you teach yoga, you could find a part time job you didn't know you were looking for. Maybe it's time to take up yoga and meditation. Try something new.

Drop in on a store or business that has always held your curiosity, take the time to check it out. It may not be what you thought it was.  You may find you love pottery and who knew they offered classes on Wednesday nights?

Do you typically shop at the same supermarket? I do, I find it efficient to know where everything is and get my shopping done quickly. If you've never been, drop in at a Trader Joe's or a specialty wine shop. See what that little market on the corner sells. I found one that sells organic beer. You may find it's not for you, but you may discover a new passion for figs, who knows?

Move the furniture around in your home. Put your favorite chair near the window and see what there is to see. Can you see the bird feeder from there? Do you look out on the park across the street? Maybe you can see the bus stop three floors down. You'll find out new things about your surroundings that never occurred to you. What will you do with this new discovery?

Memorize a poem. If you haven't read poetry much before you may find you have exposed yourself to several before you choose one to commit to memory. You may learn something new along the way. I recommend Nine Horses by Billy Collins for those who have yet to try poetry, he is easy to read and has a great sense of humor.

If you always shower, try a bath. Use a little lavender and light a candle, men can do this too. If you usually shower at night switch it up and get up a half an hour early and shower in the morning. You may hate it, but give it a week to find out.

Sleep on the other side of the bed.

Make small changes to your diet. Rather than embark on a strict diet especially during the holidays, why not make one change for only a week. For instance, replace white bread with sprouted grain. Replace bottled soda with bottled tea, there are many to choose from. Replace that candy bar with a granola bar or a banana. Do it for just a week and and make another change the next week. Before you know it, you will be on your way to a new healthier you.

Do you usually get your news on television on a favorite channel? Try another channel, try one that has views that oppose your own. See what the other guys are up to. Maybe you could tune in to NPR on your radio and see if you like what they have to say. If you listen to music in your car, change the channel. If you usually listen to country, try classic. Freedom from lyrics can allow your mind to wander new places.

Have you found StumbleUpon  yet? It's like Digg  or Delicious. You'll find things you never knew were out there, some you'll have no use for but others could change your life.

When my children were small I was easily annoyed by anything they did that was repetitive. Kicking the back of the seat in the car. Repeating the word "Mommy" until I thought I would lose my mind. Tapping my shoulder incessantly while something else had my attention, perhaps watching another child's basketball game. I found it wasn't enough to ask a small child to "stop it". They could understand that they should stop it but they didn't know what to do instead. If I gave them an idea for another activity to occupy them for a few minutes, they seemed happy enough to do that instead. As adults we aren't much different. We've developed habits that no longer serve us and we know we should stop it, but we have yet to develop new interests. Do you spend too much time in front of the home shopping channel? Are you still using that tired old pancake recipe where you just add water to the jug and shake? Do you read the same newspaper every morning?

New Years Eve will be upon us soon. A time when many make resolutions to live a better life. So as you anticipate the new year, play a little. Try new things. Don't make any decisions yet. Pick something from the list above or think of another way to change your perspective. Do it for a week. Give it a sincere try and see what happens. You could meet new people, learn to say good morning in another language, learn to crochet, see a bird you've never seen before.  These are small things it's true, but you could find a new passion. You just might find your bliss. Jump in and give it a try.

Be happy.

"Follow your bliss" ~Joseph Campbell

Comments

[Dan Norby]

Excellent reading material along with some excellent advice. It's amazing how much we all take for granted.

[Lori Kwek]

Great advice, I never thought of doing something different, this sounds so easy. Great job and thanks for the the advice, its amazing how we take the smallest thing for granted.