How quickly and accurately we recognize a pattern could mean the difference between death and survival 20,000 years ago.

Patterns – it’s the stuff of life. We don’t perceive reality – we literally create it with our assumptions – based on our perception of patterns. We assume a pattern as soon as we “guess” that one exists. After that, we tend to “fill in the blanks” rather than test our hypothesis (our “guess”).

To illustrate my point, consider the following pattern:

1, 2, 3…

Can you predict the next number? Of course you can. You assume it is 4. That’s because you perceive a familiar pattern. But, what if it is not 4. What if it is 5 instead? Is the pattern broken? Maybe – unless you can perceive a new pattern, you will not be able to predict the next or the next number.

Prediction is how we survived on the plains 200,000 years ago when we were considered food by many of the then existing fauna. Correct predictions brought about survival. Incorrect predictions often brought about death. Over the course of millions of years of evolution, prediction has become so ingrained in humans as to make it invisible to us.

We anticipate just about everything – and tend to avoid surprises.

Pattern recognition can get us into some trouble at times, too. Particularly when we recognize one pattern when we are faced with another. Or if we perceive a pattern but don’t go back and check our “guess” against prevailing evidence to the contrary.

People like to be right – and we tend to defend our perceptions vehemently. “I’m right!” Further, once we have established a recognition of a pattern, we tend to back it up with supportive evidence so we can justify our rightness (sometimes called “righteousness”) and tend to avoid or ignore evidence to the contrary (called the Confirmation Bias).

As part of our competitive human nature, we want to be FIRST to be right – so we snap to a judgment as soon as we perceive a pattern – sometimes BEFORE we know the pattern for sure. And when no pattern is apparent, we CREATE one based on our past experiences (patterns of sensory interpretation) and how we are feeling in the moment.

One of our most interesting human characteristics is the need to save face. Most people are willing to go to extremes to save face – to avoid embarrassment or exposure. When we fail to correctly recognize a pattern in our life – like when we jumped to an incorrect conclusion and perceived someone as being angry with us when they were not, for example – we immediately go to work to keep ourselves from losing face in the eyes of others (and ourselves). It’s called rationalization. Sometimes even going to great lengths to make sure the pattern we perceive is carried out – even against overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

What would life be like if you could be okay just being you? How smoothly would life work for you if you did not need to protect yourself from illusory enemies? How happy would you be every day of your life if you no longer needed to fight for your “rights”?

How can you beat 2 million years of human evolution? It’s in our DNA for pity’s sake!

And that is the answer to the quandary! It’s in our DNA!

Seek a RET technician willing to work with you on your Inner Child issues. I recommend RET technicians because they have been especially trained to assist you in this way. Using your time line, seek out those early times in your life when you were faced with “Why!” -

“Why did you do that?”
“Why did you do this?”
“Why did you spill your milk?”
“Why did you write on the wall with crayons?”
“Why aren’t you more careful?”
etc., etc., etc…

Then go back and rekindle that pre-three-year-old ability to be truthful, honest, bold, and innocent. Find the child within you who holds the keys to your courage – the courage to say you were wrong – the courage to face the music – the courage to listen when you feel hurt. It takes courage to accept loss of face. It takes real courage to let go of your rightness (righteousness) and be accepting and open when your pattern recognition software within deems it unsafe to do so.