Have you ever asked yourself why you get stuck in habits or thought processes that you no longer want? It’s as if you want to move forward, but you are being dragged back by something intangible. This is where old mind comfort patterns, or karmic comfort patterns, come to play. These patterns are not "bad" by nature, but are a form of thought or behavior that is repetitive in nature, that offers comfort, even if that comfort is what keeps you stuck.

Human nature seeks comfort. Since childhood, we form beliefs, strategies to cope with a scenario, and reactions in order to survive emotional turmoil or confusion. These patterns, although protective in nature, can act as shackles as life evolves. For instance, if you are from a household where you had to be silent to avoid disputes, you may now not be able to express your feelings, even if it is unhealthy. Or perhaps you would find yourself in stagnant, or what may be termed as, dead-end relationships, merely because they are familiar. These are the comfort patterns of the old mind, or karmic patterns that are stuck in trauma and conditioned thought.

Rise from the Mental Cell

The positive point of beginning any problem is being aware of the root cause. Ask oneself: What cycles are constant in my…key mental processes, my connections, or my reactions? Why is there resistance? What, physically or emotionally, has stalled? Just be neutral. Boundless freedom is possible, but only after the patterns are visible. They may be ignored, but in any case, a decision, not a default, must be made. Then there is self-kindness, and it is imperative. These patterns came to be because, at a particular time, they were a requisite. With self-kindness, the beginning is allowed, involving the healing process.

Do not expect such parts of yourself to be protected at any cost, but rather redirect them to positive changes that still fulfil such aims. Journaling, as well as the use of meditation and positive self-talk, are considered practical aids in mental retraining. For instance, when an old reaction arises, pause and breathe. After asking, “Is this how best to serve my highest good?” Substitute the old mental representation with one such as “To say my true feelings is safe,” “To say my true feelings is safe,” or “Discomfort can be avoided by predicating it on a conscious choice to grow.”.

Emotional release techniques, such as Reiki or Shamanic Breathwork, can also assist by facilitating the release of blockages like suppressed emotions. You feel emotionally fragmented; thus, located parts of yourself that need to be heard or seen can be further assisted by other practices of inner child healing. Religious activities, such as prayers or accessing higher consciousness, remind you of your evolution beyond your past behaviors. The more you believe and trust that life welcomes and supports your transformation, the more effortless it becomes for you to adopt and embrace new patterns that foster your evolution. Ultimately, the patterns of comfort derived from the old mind, or any karmic patterns, are not prisons, but rather invitations. Gentle reminders from your deeper codifying, to rewrite your narrative, not by violence, but by allowing love, consciousness, and deliberate action to guide the way, are available. The moment you create distance from that which does not serve your interests, you create space for newer, more energizing patterns to emerge that provide authentic joy, clarity, and peace.

The responses that stem from trauma or past experiences could be termed “karmic”. A soul’s karma can also be said as the patterns that this soul has never ceased repeating and attempting to resolve. Recreating relationships and scenarios where we find comfort– as with a worn-out sweater– becomes the long-sought challenge. This comfort feels earned. Waking up to this is step one. Ask yourself: what patterns do I replay in my thoughts? Where do I feel the tightness and restriction? Why is it so tense? Witness your mind being non-judgmental. It is the only thing that gives this illusion of freedom.

These patterns begin to resolve fully only when breathing is restricted, and that is when they become unnecessary. Practices of the soul, and even higher prayer and guidance, will claim that the past is not where you come from. You have been there already. It is only what’s ahead that you have yet to arrive at. Trust that you can be transformed, so that new patterns can become easy and aligned upwards towards you. It is disappointment, not change, that assumes comfort patterns are a prison. Old mind comfort patterns are invitations.

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