Shedding and Shredding Your Patterns

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” —T. S. Elliot 

Living a soul-hearted life requires that you continuously shed and shred the layers of your patterns. Like the Turkish pastry baklava, with its fragile phyllo layers, the subtle layers of your patterns must be released on an on-going basis. In fact, you actually create the life experiences that reveal the next layer of a pattern to shed and shred, a process that occurs throughout your life. This regenerative process initiates a new cycle of transformation and is essential to your spiritual growth.  

This is a lifelong process because the residue of your patterns never completely goes away; instead, the layers become more subtle. Even when you eliminate a pattern, the brain continues to show you a phantom of it. Like a file that you have deleted from your hard drive, its energy as a hologram can still surface. It alerts you that the past has come up to meet the present and reminds you to stay true to yourself.  

To recognize when a pattern surfaces, take note of which people and circumstances push your buttons and trigger any negative reactions. The stronger these reactions are, the more deeply ingrained the patterns are in your life.  

You may not always notice a pattern since it can be disguised as anger, annoyance, or discomfort. Even so, you have spiritual tools to assist you. Like the jack you keep in the trunk of the car in case of a flat tire, these tools are within reach whenever you need them. One such tool that is useful in clearing any pattern is the mantra “Bless and release, Don’t go there, or Break the pattern.” 

Another tool is to become aware of the “flags” telling you that a pattern has surfaced. One common flag is an obsessive attachment to a certain outcome, grievance, or position. Other flags are the urgent need to defend yourself, be right, or blame someone.  

By recognizing such flags, you have an opportunity to eliminate the underlying layers of patterns at their source. To trace their origins, it is helpful to journal, speak with friends, or talk to a therapist. You can reflect on why you keep putting yourself in certain situations with particular people. And, you can see if the taproot of these patterns is the need for security, stability, or love.  

Because residual patterns can be lurking anywhere in your physical environment, it is necessary to “energetically feng shui” your surroundings for old items that may be blocking your energy. For example, if you open a desk drawer and see papers, photos, or gifts from a previous relationship, regard it as a cue to keep anything you cherish and discard the rest. As if holding an open house, inspect your living environment to evaluate your belongings, deciding which items to keep, move to a different place, or release and eliminate. 

Learning how to shed and shred the layers of your patterns motivates you to become aware of how every thought, feeling, and choice either supports or interferes with living in alignment with your soul’s path. Learning to recognize and then release your fear-based patterns and how they block the flow of energy is essential to co-create the life you want.