Pattern Interrupt: In Real Life And Real Time

How conversations with my feet keep me on track

This article is from a recording in which I capture a “pattern interrupt” in real time — a technique I use to get out of a habit loop that’s not serving me. Based on a nudge from a friend, I offer an example that isn’t about running. Video + audio versions below, too. (Photo by me)

[This is a direct transcript of a live pattern interrupt]

The other day after I published my piece on pattern interrupts my friend Cameron, my companion in composting, reached out and said, “Yeah, that’s great and stuff. But what does that have to do with real life?”

To me it was kind of obvious what it had to do with real life — even though I was using an example in running, and sometimes I’m a bit vague or esoteric. So I thought I’d ground it in how I’ve been using this concept of pattern interrupting in real life, in real time, to offer an example.

I am, for context, walking to the subway on my way to a chiropractor appointment and thinking about a whole bunch of stuff. My mind is racing a little bit on a lot of things I’m tackling.