Are You Caught in a Holding Pattern?
Are you caught in a holding pattern? Does your life seem to be going around in circles? Break the cycle and get on with your life! Read on to find out how!
The term "holding pattern" has been used to describe weather conditions, a standoff or a state of standing still/staying the same. In essence, it is the state of little movement, change, or forward mobility. You can generally expect more of the same. You may have heard someone say, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired". They can either decide to keep doing the same thing, being in the same place of existence or create change in their circumstance. In our lives we may get caught in a holding pattern for various reasons:
1. Procrastination – not taking initiative to do the things we should
2. Lack of follow through – we start things but we never finish
3. Lack of motivation – there is a way, but our will is not up to it
4. Unwillingness to change – because of fear, doubt, or other limiting thoughts
5. Feeling powerless – feelings of inadequacy in some area
6. Lower expectations – accepting our lives "as is" instead of expending energy to change.
Although any list of excuse could come in handy, deep within us we all long for change in some area of our lives. There is a fire in our belly that says, "if I just press a little harder I could see a different reality". Imagine a holding pattern as being a series of concentric circles. The center has a strong pull on all the circles but the further away you get from the center, the less gravitational pull there is. We may be caught in a holding pattern because at the center of us there is a limiting behavior that is exerting a strong gravitational pull that leaves us immobilized.
But all is not lost. Also buried within you is motivation! All you need to do is tap into it! We must get up off the seat of do nothing in a house of procrastination with Mr. Fear avidly guarding the door. Your way out is to first recognize the patterns and then make a concerted effort to expend energy and time to change them. You don’t need another self help book. You don’t need another idea. Until your inner chains (limiting behaviors) are broken, your ability to reach your goals may be limited. You are not powerless! You can effect change but it all starts with a conscious decision to obtain different results. Do something, anything that belies the pattern. Start now by identifying the holding pattern in your life and determine to systematically dismantle it. Start today! Develop a list of personal mantras to get you in action and break you free of that pattern!
Today is the day I will:
- Figure out what lies at the core of me that prevents me from doing that which I desire to do.
- I declare war on limiting thoughts, feelings and actions. I will pluck them up at the root and subject them to permanent expulsion.
- Find my book of "book of excuses" and put it out with the trash.
- I assert my right to walk in my God given potential, and allow the reality of who I am to unfold radiantly in me.
- Identify they, them, and others and stop referring to them as the reason for my life being the way it is.
- I decide whether I will move in passion or simply perpetrate my pain.
- Kick out all negative emotions and turn over my welcome mat so they will not return.
- I will take back my house keys from doubt, fear and procrastination.
- I will shake off the old clothes of "a wrong attitude" and wash my face and determine to look and feel my best.
- I will set in motion the actions that will forever change my destiny. I must begin one thing (anything) that I have always said I am meant to do.
- I will stop talking too much and start doing more, about the things that concern me. Talking about it never gets it done anyway.
- I will determine to think empowered, live empowered, stay empowered.
- I concede that unless my passion for what I desire is greater than my fear of my desire, I will forever be locked in an imaginary box of my own making which only I can destroy. It’s all in my mind.
- Stop calling my bitterness by righteous names and admit that it bothers me to see other people living the life of my dreams.
- I will take ownership of my actions and stop waiting for someone else to magically move me from here to where I need to be. Actions for my life begin with me. I declare today the revolution of my lifetime. I declare today MY NEW DAY!!!
© 2006-2009 Donnett Ekwerike