Unusual responses
Leverage daily life to repattern your reality
I got crystal clear guidance while journaling the other day.
It was simple:
Respond to every challenge with lightheartedness (inner smirk energy), instead of reacting with frustration or sulking.
Unusual, conscious responses to ‘problems.’ Not unconscious reactivity.
And guess what?
Since I committed to this, I’ve been tested.
After a week straight of promoting The Sovereign Creator, no one signed up. Yes, I wrestled with some disappointment. But I’ve been practicing laughing at my reactions and choosing to see it with an inner smirk. So instead of pouting about it, I’m lightheartedly pivoting that offer to better suit highly sensitive souls (more details coming soon).
Even with little things, I’ve been practicing responding with lightheartedness.
A long wait? Smile and find something interesting to observe.
An unexpected work task? Smirk and turn it into a game.
Encountering a troll online? Laugh and move on.
Do NOT underestimate the power of unusual, intentional responses.
Why?
Unusual, intentional responses…
Rewire your nervous system (and subconscious beliefs)
Repattern your identity (in an intentional way)
Help you overcome challenges and find solutions (with more ease and grace)
Prevent you from marinating in reactive emotions (like anger, frustration, sadness, despair, etc)
Strengthen your ability to see reality from different perspectives
Diffuse interpersonal conflict
I’ve applied unusual responses before, but I never committed to it as a practice until now.
And even after a few days, I’m noticing that:
I’m less bothered by circumstances
I’m more confident and able to trust the process of life
I’m more aware of certain shadow aspects of my ego
Yeah, I’m seeing parts of me that have thrived on reactivity. The frustration. The despair. The sulking.
And you know how it goes. Once you’re aware of how specific shadow aspects operate, and don’t feed them anymore, they gradually fade and merge back into The Void.
Instead of being possessed by reactive-negativity, responding unusually is a forcing function for awareness (and repatterning) of these auto-programs. It’s all part of the practice.
So try it out.
Choose an unusual response.
I recommend something similar to what I did. Commit to responding to challenges (anything your ego doesn’t like) with lightheartedness.
Lightheartedness is great because it’s a pattern disruptor. It snaps you out of the ego’s trance and makes life feel light again (like how a well placed joke instantly vaporizes the unspoken tension in a room).
Have fun with your unusual responses.
And let me know how it goes for you.
With gratitude,
Stephen Parato
Conscious Creator Atlas
I recently launched the Conscious Creator Atlas.
It’s a curated publication and living index that helps aligned creators discover each other and collaborate on meaningful work.
The Conscious Creator Atlas is a space to find collaborators, new opportunities, and build an intentional network of like-hearted people.
Examples of what this could facilitate:
Authors finding high-vibe artists to illustrate books.
Founders of conscious brands finding conscious copywriters.
Mastermind groups forming with people with similar visions/missions.
Finding collaborators and experts to contribute to retreats or workshops.
Discovering your next coach or mentor.
When we share our gifts and shine our light, who knows what amazing things these collaborations will lead to.
I've been in this practice for a few years now. It gets difficult when you grow accustomed to interrupting problems without fear reflexes. Most people are sick in that mode and you cannot break them out.
Offering them options to escape just seems to be smacked away. So don't be surprised if you start to feel a little isolated. It's ok, you're building a better you. Most people don't know how to do that.