But it’s hard to do that because of all the negative pre-existing patterns that are currently propagating through (and by that I mean having “pattern sex,” multiplying, and thoroughly screwing up) your business & your life.

I’m not just talking about the annoying habits [...]]]>

Look, the world is changing and you want to change with it.

But it’s hard to do that because of all the negative pre-existing patterns that are currently propagating through (and by that I mean having “pattern sex,” multiplying, and thoroughly screwing up) your business & your life.

I’m not just talking about the annoying habits you’re trying to break (although we’ll get to those)…. I’m talking about all the hazardous, inconvenient, uncomfortable problems that keep popping up and holding you back from getting exactly what you want out what you do.

It sucks when you finally decide to streamline your shipping process, loose weight, or find your soul mate but you can’t seem to break free of the endless paper pushing,  stop eating donuts, or get a damn date on a Friday night.  But there’s a hidden process in every one of these problems.

Is it really so much to ask for a life filled with Health, Joy, Love, Honesty, Abundance, and Freedom?

Hell NO!

You CAN have everything you want out of life. You just have to set the right pattern in motion and ride the wave. Don’t worry, (dun-dun-da-da) I’m here to help.

First off, let me say that I’m not a psychologist, but I play one on TV (just kidding) and I’m not a counselor (although I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night). But I am a Physicist, an Engineer, a Technical Writer and a Human Being. I’ve spent my entire life enamored and engrossed by puzzles, analyzing patterns, and creating systems that make it easier for people to do difficult things (like shoot big lasers, fly satellites in space, and read ebooks on that ridiculously thin Kindle screen).

Think Dogbert meets Lois from Family Guy and you’ll have a good idea of the first 30 years of my life. Until I discovered that the same types of patterns that kept me stuck in a job I hated and a series of difficult relationships also helped me loose 70lbs (I dropped from a size 18 to a size 6) and catapulted my career from Junior-Engineer to Project-Manager-In-Demand to Technical-Writer-&-Researcher.

Once I figured it out, I learned how to turn negative patterns into positive change… and I want to pass this on to you.

Pattern Interrupt is about sharing how to Simplify & Organize your hidden processes into Streamlined & Useful Patterns.

Now, I’m not perfect. I’ve screwed up, made huge mistakes, and paid some serious consequences in my life. (funny story, I once walked into a strip club… eh, lets save that for the blog) So I’m not going to promise that following my methods will instantly pop you into a Utopian life with deep blue skies and crowds of admirers throwing flowers & 100 dollar bills at you.

What I will promise you is this:

Absolutely, Positively No Filler! - If I don’t have something original and useful to say, I won’t say anything at all. This site is about bringing you valuable, applicable knowledge. I refuse to add to the InfoPorn on the net.

My Life as a Continuous Test Case – I will not only explain how to change your negative patterns, but also give you detailed examples of how I made similar changes in my own life. I am the Guinea Pig. (only taller, with longer hair, and hopefully more attractive)

and finally….

Everything I know that will Change Your Patterns, and Simplify Your Life – I’m going to let my brain throw up on this blog. (Only without the undigested chunks) I will share with you every method of change I know, discover, and experience… So you can use your patterns and processes to simplify your Business & your Life.

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Everybody’s got one.  The problem that’s been following you around all week.  You know the answer is inside of you, if you could just get to it — Crack open your subconscious, scoop out the solution, and move forward.  But the [...]]]>

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Everybody’s got one.  The problem that’s been following you around all week.  You know the answer is inside of you, if you could just get to it — Crack open your subconscious, scoop out the solution, and move forward.  But the more you think about the problem, the more confused you become.  Sometimes you give up and hope it’ll go away (even though it always comes back eventually).  And sometimes it swirls and swirls around your head, like a hamster running on a meaningless wheel.

To solve this problem, you can either wait for an “A-Ha” moment, or you can design a moment of insight using a Creative Journal.  Let me explain.

Right vs Left

When you’ve got a serious problem, the analytical left side of your brain is running amok, trying to solve the problem with all the logic that’s stored in your memory.  You experience a constant playback of individual details and sequential thoughts.   A leads to B leads to C.  Unfortunately, this demanding Daemon, as I like to call the left brain, keeps you too busy to step back and look for larger patterns and creative solutions.

This is the perfect time to call on your Muse.  This elusive creature, otherwise known as the nonlinear, intuitive right brain, is playing poker with all the related details of your problem.  And you may already have a Royal Flush.  You just have to sit down and look at your cards.

The key is making your Daemon and your Muse work together.

Play Nice

Your Daemon and your Muse hate each other most of the time.  Or at least they pretend to.  The Daemon loves to live by the rules, and whatever logic defines them.  The Muse loves to daydream and play endless games.  Each is strong in their own sphere of influence, ie analytical vs creative.  But their synergy is the powerful substance that makes all life possible. Invention, Philosophy, and Art.

So, you have to design a way for them to both do what they love.  Here’s one.

A Plan For Clarity

Although the goal, a solution to your problem, may be difficult, the steps to get there are simple.  It only takes three:

1. Schedule the Time
2. Prepare the Space
3. Ask the Question

Remember, your Daemon loves rules, even open ended ones like this, and your Muse love to play games.  A designed moment of insight requires them to work together.  So lets take each step one by one.

1.  Schedule the Time

When you consciously set aside time to resolve a problem, you tell your subconscious that this issue is important.  You prioritize the issue for both your Daemon and your Muse and communicate when they need to show up.  I like to set aside 15 to 30 minutes right before bed.

2.  Prepare the Space

You need to create a space where your Muse can play, and a tangible record of the ideas the Muse creates.  Then, the Daemon can analyze the big picture as well as the merits of each idea and pick the solution that works best.  Make sure and pick a Creative Journal that calls to your Muse — whether its a Recycled Wirebound Notebook, a Green Embossed Journal, or an Artist’s Moleskine Sketchbook.

3.  Ask the Question

This step is crucial and the one that most people forget.  You must define the question you really want to ask.  Don’t assume the initial problem is actually the one you need to solve.  One way to do this is to ask yourself “Why” 3 or 4 times.  Then turn the last “Why” into a “How” to clarify the problem and describe your question.  As an example from my own life…

• Why haven’t I finished writing my novel, Shattered Souls? — Because I haven’t made the time.
• Why haven’t I made time? — Because I prioritized my other writing tasks above it.
• Why did I prioritize other tasks above it? — Because I’m not happy with my plot lines. I’m not sure how to end it, and incorporate the twist.

Clarified Question: How do I end the “Shattered Souls” plot lines and still incorporate the twist? (It looks like I’ve got to set a date with my Journal tonight)

Aha Moment

Now, simply let the Muse play without judgment.  Write every thought, every idea, every inspiration, every emotion, every goal, every intention, and every obstacle that your Muse comes up with.  You may even get a phenomenal “A-Ha” during this time.  Don’t censor anything.  Don’t let the Daemon onto the playing field until the Muse has finished making a complete and total mess of your journal pages.

After 15 to 30 minutes, you stop.  Set the journal aside and take a break for a few minutes or even a few days.  Then, reread everything your wrote.  Hand the whole thing over to your Daemon and let it analytically sort.

You’ll see the Big Picture with more clarity.  You’ll find new and innovative solutions.  You’ll know how to move forward.

Take a moment to be grateful that your brain has stopped spinning in circles, finally.  And reward your innovative mind by reading a book, seeing a movie, going out with friends, or eating chocolate ginger brownies (my personal favorite).

BREAK

When you have a problem forever swirling in your mind, how do you create insight and find the solution? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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