Are their circumstances that keep repeating themselves that you don’t want? Do you feel frustrated because nothing seems to change? Perhaps, its time to look at your past patterns of behavior.
Awareness is the first step to transforming past patterns of behavior. There are several exercises to examine and learn from.
It’s important to become aware and trace back where and when the pattern started. This helps you get to the root of the thought triggering the behavior you want to change.
If you change and replace thoughts and habits, step by step everything will change. Keep in mind transformation takes time. Be gentle with yourself and others.
Examining past patterns of behavior can help you create a more fulfilling future. Here are 5 exercises to help you learn from your past!
5 Exercises to Help You Learn From Your Past
You are tired of being and doing the same thing and getting the same result. You know that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors must change so that you align to who you truly are and what you want.
Pick 1 area in your life you want to change to start. Consider the behaviors you exhibit and the feelings you have about those behaviors. For example, let’s say you want to lose weight. Yet, you keep overeating. Then, you feel guilty.
There are likely experiences connected to the food you had early in life and behaviors you watched with your family. Get to the root of the earliest experience you remember having with food that was not positive.
Then, choose to write down a new empowering thought like I am making healthy choices for myself. Now, take an action that makes that real like not buying chips anymore. Make sense? We make over 30,000 decisions a day. Transformation starts with 1-2 at a time.
Self-awareness is the start of your journey. How could you empower yourself? What about a caring community?
Here are 5 exercises to help you learn from the past.
1. Quiet Time
Setting and scheduling quiet time is paramount first thing in the morning and last thing in your day. This might be a prayer for you or journaling. During this time, think about the day and what worked well and what didn’t. Reflect on how it could have been better. How would you change it next time?
Consider a situation where you may have reacted negatively and where that thought came from. Trace it back to the root. Did you ask for clarity in the situation? How did you demonstrate grace and understanding?
This will help you start to shift thought patterns that are driving your behaviors.
2. Gratitude First
Giving gratitude the first thing in your day helps you put things in perspective. You realize that you are here and present. This helps you set the framework for how you want the day to go.
It will help you see where you may have lack thoughts and reframing them to positive. You will be amazed and how your whole life starts to shift with a new perspective.
2. Timeline Template
When we are operating in fear or negativity, it’s easy to get and stay there if we don’t consciously interrupt with a new thought. To shift the thoughts and behaviors long term, it’s important to make a timeline template.
A suggestion is to start with now and in seven-year increments going backward. List important events both highs and lows. Think about your communication and speaking your truths. Did you maybe go from one extreme to another in communication, health, wealth, business?
As you go through each seven-year segment, think of the behaviors of your parents. How did you mirror them? Which ones serve you and which ones do you want to change?
This exercise will be very eye-opening for you. Take the time to do it. Make sure you are somewhere quiet so you may focus and not be interrupted.
3. Write It Down
Writing things down is powerful whether it is thoughts, goals, and behaviors. As you write, be conscious of your thoughts and words. Actively practice reframing a thought as you write. For example, I have to becomes I get to.
Practice writing the behaviors you want to practice. For example, today I am happy, peaceful, and joyful. This exercise will help you focus on what you truly want vs. what you don’t want.
Writing things down regularly has a way of getting us in touch with ourselves and our innermost thoughts on a deep level.
4. Get Moving
Get moving, literally. It could be a walk in the park, a jog around the neighborhood, or lifting weights at the gym. When we move our bodies, it helps us cope with stress better.
We sleep better and our confidence improves. This will help you reflect on past behaviors as well. Ask yourself regularly – am I behaving as my best self?
5. New Habits
New habits will help shift your behaviors step by step. You may want to focus on 1-2 new ones each month to make sure you focus on them and don’t feel overwhelmed.
At the same time, celebrate yourself every day for better behavior whether it is with yourself or others. For example, how did you behave better with your spouse? That is a huge win! Energy is everything so everything matters.
Examining Past Patterns of Behavior
Examining past patterns of behavior are powerful. Keep in mind you have practiced some of these behaviors for 10, 20, 30+ years. Some may change easier than others. Some may take time. Be gentle with yourself.
These 5 exercises will help you transform into who you want to be.
Decide how you will commit to some of these activities and schedule them.
What exercises resonated with you the most?
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