Playing with the Patterns

You do not have a problem. You have a pattern. This intriguing assertion is the First Recognition in David Robinson's new book The Seer. Emerging from a year fraught with problems of my own making I was startled into the recognition that, in fact, the problems I experienced were the result of deeply ingrained patterns. It took me only a few minutes to identify about a dozen specific behaviors that led me down the garden path into a pit of misery. The cascade of emotions when I get triggered became very obvious. My control issues were glaring. I realized I'm still not living fully in the present; rather, I try to make the future known by rehearsing my part in it. (It doesn't take much imagination to know how effective that strategy is.) I anticipate things that don't happen.

Upon sharing these insights with a friend I was asked "what about all the good things you do?" and she promptly rattled off many positive aspects. I engage deeply and personally. There is an ebb and flow to my life... yes, I get bogged down... and I always come out of it. Nature sustains and nurtures me. I take risks and look for fresh challenges. Noting that I never considered these more positive traits in my list of patterns I realized that I, like many women and girls, am still subject to the belief that I am not good enough. On the face of it that is patently ridiculous. By all standards I live a good life and am successful. And still, it is all too easy to get mired in these false belief systems. And so I recognize that some of my patterns arise from personal experiences while others reflect the impact of cultural norms.

The Seer is about changing the stories we tell, changing our patterns. It's about allowing ourselves to be curious, to be present and to be ok with not knowing. To be willing to act without knowing what will happen. What story do I want to tell? Are my behavior patterns supporting or undermining my efforts? How can I change my mindset? Finally deciding that I needed an infusion of something other than"gray blah" I turned to Sebastian, one of my inner guides. Sebastian is fashioned after Reepicheep in the Narnia Chronicles by C. S. Lewis. He is a debonair and gallant mouse, always the first to confront any foe and face any challenge, and he does so with a decided spirit of grace and adventure. His goal is to go the the end of the world. And to the end of the world and beyond he goes, eagerly striding into the unknown, looking forward to the next adventure. This is the story I want to tell. Spending a moment with Sebastian shifts my outlook and my lightens my mood. I act. It is just that easy.

David Robinson is an artist and author. When he's not painting, writing or performing, he guides people to the field of possibilities. Get the book here: The Seer