Most of the decisions we make are done on a subconscious level that we are not fully aware of. These underlying, split second choices can be fueled by faulty beliefs from our past. This is often why we can see patterns in our lives replay themselves over and over again and we don’t know how to stop.
We’ve all been there or have seen others stuck in their own ineffective pattern. On a macro level, they consistently end up working with the wrong company, choosing bad business partners, wrong products, wrong priorities, toxic relationships or always have overcommitted schedules full of busy stress.
But what is going on a micro level? If these patterns are so obvious, why can't they put an end to them?
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We’re often hesitant to take a deep dive into our past -- or at least do it consciously with a purpose. On the other hand, we're happy to ruminate about the bad stuff for no reason. Looking back and figuring out why things happened the way they did can seem daunting and frustrating. If we are unable to identify why these patterns are happening in our lives, we will never be able to stop them to create new experiences that actually support our goals.
Successful leaders seem to create the space to reflect and be quite critical of their past. They are able to identify the subconscious decisions that lead them to specific outcomes and how those same decisions are playing out today. Then, they can either make the necessary changes or leverage them further.
The key to doing an inventory of your past is to set some time aside and dig into it when you have a clear mind. This isn't an all-day, everyday exploration. By conducting this inventory, you may start spotting things today that connect to patterns in your past. This is a good thing. It's self-awareness. Take notes, and when you find time to sit down to reflect again, review them, and connect the dots.
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This new level of self-awareness can change the trajectory of your life. If you want to figure these patterns out, really put yourself in your past shoes and remember how you were thinking and feeling at that time in your life.
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This new level of self-awareness will help reclaim control over your life by identifying what is causing these ineffective patterns. Be on the look out, catch them, and take a step back to see how you could approach the decision differently. Changing these frustrating patterns in your life can be simpler than you originally thought.
The more you understand why you did what you did in the past, the better you will get at making the necessary changes to do what is best in the present.