I came across this real life example of how blindly following a pattern that we are used to, can be self destructive in some cases. Take a moment to read and think for yourselves how many such patterns in your life you can get rid of…
When we were young and learning bicycle for the first time, we used support. when we mastered it we no longer needed support, be it training wheels or someone holding from behind. While we become good in recognizing physical support, we often fail to recognize the mental training wheels we develop and tend to stay stuck to them well into our adult life… time to get them out of your way and here is an example of a pattern that has outgrown its use.
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Jean Henri Fabre was a scientist who lived during the 1800s. He is perhaps most famous for the experiment he did with processionary caterpillars in 1855.
These caterpillars follow each other very closely, forming a column that moves in a procession so they don’t stray from the path. When they go out in search of food, each caterpillar excretes a silky substance which deepens the trail that the procession follows on their return.
One day Fabre placed some of these caterpillars around the rim of a flower pot. In the center of the pot, he put the caterpillar’s favorite food, pine needles. The caterpillars just marched around and around the flower pot on their comfortable road of silk, doing what they had always done, following the comrade in front of them.
Exhausted, hungry, worn out, they blindly followed each other around the rim, while only a few inches away lay exactly what they needed to live a healthy and prosperous life. For days and days, the caterpillars marched around the pot, never leaving their silken path, until one by one they fell off the rim and died. . . Never breaking their pattern.
With all our intellect, abilities and gifts, most human beings are not all that different. We all have unconscious patterns that keep us stuck in one aspect of our life or another. Around and around we go, following our past programming, holding on to outdated beliefs and maintaining destructive habits and behaviors that are no longer congruent with who we want to be as human beings.
Why do we do this?
Following a familiar pattern can be very comforting because it feels safe. Sometimes it can be deadly as in the case of the caterpillar. Mostly, it provides a false sense of security and robs us of our vitality, creativity and our potential for creating the best in our life.
The wonderful thing about being human is that we can change!
Change the patterns and get focused on what you really want in life. Write it down and spend time each day thinking about it. Ask yourself during the day is what you are doing really leading to you to what you want?
By: Zoilita Grant Colorado Coaching and Hypnotherapy [info(at)zoilitagrant.net]
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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