In a conversation with a friend this week, we discussed how we often default to playing small. Even when we know that a behaviour, pattern or belief system may not be serving our highest self, we still stick to it with such conviction. We stay in relationships that don’t uplift us, in jobs that exhaust us and in behaviours that limit us. This is because of programming, we are brought up to believe that even if it doesn’t feel good, if it’s familiar then it’s safe. The mind is programmed to recognise patterns and it’s unbiased, so when we do anything with consistency, it will naturally come to recognise that thing as “safe” purely because it recognises it, even if it feels horrible. When we start to move towards the unknown the mind freaks out, because this new thing is unfamiliar and immediately labeled as “unsafe”. In our rational mind, we can see how this makes no sense, none of us want to be stuck in unhealthy relationships, jobs or behaviours yet when faced with change, we can tend to curl up and become victim to the ever repeating known. It sounds too simple to be true, but in my experience, the simple knowing that beyond these habits and patterns lies something so much greater can be the tool that helps us move through them. A commitment to live life fully, even though it may scare the crap out of you, is a worthwhile investment. Know that your fears are simply patterns and that a new one can always take their place.
With love,
Emily x