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Listen to Matt share today's session while you brew your coffee ☕️ 😉👇
“If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there’s an arrow in your heart.”
— Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
TODAY'S INTENTION
Today, let's develop a simple and reliable practice that interrupts the attention-erosion process of a pattern.
The purpose of a pattern interrupting practice is to reclaim the energy and attention that a pattern needs to run. The practice can be very simple—for instance, if you observe that you are triggered into reactivity by stop-and-go traffic, rest your attention on your breath whenever the traffic comes to a stop. Constant observation inevitably reveals other possibilities—let's explore!
HAVE YOU NOTICED?
Patterns are only limited by the amount of energy available to them.
Patterns have no internal mechanisms that limit their operation or evolution. To dismantle a pattern, we have to disrupt the operation of the pattern by systematically bringing attention to its operation. The energy then flows into attention, not into the pattern.
LET'S PRACTICE!
Simplicity and consistency for the win!
Intentionally changing our behavior from a well-set pattern can be challenging. But as we play with different ways to practice reclaiming our attention, identification with a pattern becomes weaker and weaker.
- Bring to mind a common pattern you've noticed running your life.
- Think of something you can do to remind yourself to return to attention as the pattern in running:
- bring attention to a big juicy breath
- snap a rubber band around your wrist
- bring awareness to sensations in the body
- find one thing in your environment that sparks joy
- anything that reclaims your attention will do
As we intentionally separate from a pattern, we'll naturally come up with more and more ways to practice. Enjoy reclaiming that precious energy✨ 😃 🙌
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
What is one practice that has helped you reclaim your attention from a pattern's reactivity?
Feel free to share with us in the community comments!