Breaking the Loop: Habitual Thoughts and the Courage to Choose Something New
- Cheryl M
- Apr 27
- 2 min read
Updated: May 7
Have you ever found yourself repeating the same pattern over and over—despite your desire to change?
You might want to feel better, eat differently, show up more fully, or soften your inner dialogue…
But somehow, you end up right back where you started—frustrated, stuck, or overwhelmed.
You're not broken. You're in a loop.
And the loop begins with habitual thoughts.
The Thoughts You Don’t Realize You’re Thinking
Habitual thoughts are the silent background noise of the mind.
They run beneath the surface, shaping how you feel, what you expect, and how you respond—without you even realizing they’re there.
Thoughts like:
“I’ll never get this right.”
“It’s too late to change.”
“What’s the point?”
“I don’t have time / energy / clarity.”
These aren’t just passing thoughts—they become beliefs, and beliefs shape behavior.
Even when your heart longs for something new, your body-mind system keeps repeating what’s familiar.
Because familiar feels safe—even when it’s uncomfortable.
The Shift Begins With Willingness
You don’t have to force your way out of old patterns.
You don’t even have to “get rid” of the thoughts.
What you need is willingness.
Willingness is the soft, powerful decision to try a new way—even if you don’t know how it will turn out.
It sounds like:
“I don’t know if I can… but I’m willing to try.”
“This is unfamiliar… but I’m open to seeing what happens.”
“What if there’s another way to feel, to think, to move through this?”
Willingness is the bridge between knowing and becoming.
It’s the doorway through which all true transformation walks.
Your Brain is Designed to Learn Something New
This is where neuroplasticity comes in: your brain can change.
But it doesn’t change through perfection or force—it changes through experience, repetition, and gentle curiosity.
When you become aware of a habitual thought and are willing to try something different, you begin to carve a new pathway—no matter how small.
Over time, those new pathways become more familiar than the old ones.
This is how healing happens: one brave choice at a time.
Practices to Interrupt the Loop
Here are a few simple tools to support that shift:
Notice with #nonjudgment: “Ah, there’s that thought again.”
#Breathe before reacting: Let your nervous system catch up to your intention.
Ask a different question: Instead of “Why do I always do this?” try “What might feel more supportive right now?”
Celebrate tiny shifts: Even 10 seconds of a new choice is powerful. It’s how your brain learns.
You Don’t Have to Be Ready—You Just Have to Be Willing
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You don’t need to feel completely confident.
You don’t even need to fully believe the new thought.
You just need to be willing to explore what’s possible beyond the loop—and to let that willingness guide you into something new.
If you're ready to step out of old patterns and into new possibilities, I'm here to walk that path with you. One breath, one thought, one loving choice at a time.