We are pattern seeking beings. This trait can be good or bad. It’s bad when you seek patterns that aren’t really there—when you connect dots that shouldn’t be connected, or when you let your mind construct narratives from coincidence. That can lead you astray, into superstition or faulty thinking.
But it’s another thing to be observant, especially about things you can control. To pay attention to what actually happens, not what you imagine or fear might happen. To notice, over time, what follows what.
When you see patterns you don’t like—behaviors that lead to outcomes you want to avoid—make adjustments. Small ones at first. You don’t have to overhaul everything all at once. Just shift direction slightly. Try something different. See what happens. The pattern will tell you if you’re moving the right way.
And when you see patterns you like—those conditions that consistently lead to feeling good, doing good work, connecting well with others—do what you can to protect them. Notice what’s actually present when things go well. Is it something you do at a specific time of day? Is it moving your body? Is it saying no to certain things? Whatever it is, recognize it and create the conditions for it to happen again.
The gift isn’t just in seeing the patterns. It’s in being willing to act on what you see.
TUNING Design Co. 