It's Groundhog Day
February 2nd marks the fascinating groundhog day in the US where Punxsutawney Phil (Groundhog) is said to predict the way that winter will transition into spring.
We may know it best from the 1993 movie Groundhog Day starring Phil Murray as Phil who re- lives the same day over & over & over until he begins to see patterns in his life that are not working for him.
His constant repeat of the day leads him to change his approach which leads him to significant self growth & positive changes in his life.
The movie created the social term ‘Groundhog Day’ as a means to express ones thoughts about repetitive & monotonous events or themes in our own lives.
This Groundhog Day also falls on Wednesday otherwise known as Hump Day.
If there was ever a day to notice those repeated themes, patterns & roadblocks it may well be today!
What patterns come up for you when you think about the times you’ve used the terms
It’s like Groundhog Day or it’s Hump Day.
Usually said with a tone of frustration.
Could it be the social buy into these days?
OR
Could you be noticing some repetitive patterns?
Psychology refers to these patterns as Gestalt patterns, which follow us through life until we address them.
These patterns can be profound such as self limiting beliefs around our sense of self-worth or trauma related making them painful or triggering.
They can also seem minor yet significantly limit our highest potential.
They can be uncomfortable, irritating or embarrassing which means we tend to ignore them or try to ‘fake it till we make it’.
These patterns can also go unnoticed yet continuously hold us back such as my old belief that I wasn’t ‘allowed’ to speak up.
This limited my communication, self worth & my career & I had no idea until I met my coach.
On reflection, the Groundhog Day moments around this self limit felt more like…
Supreme discomfort public speaking
Becoming irritated & annoyed by others who spoke up (to the point of eye-rolling)
Fumbling through important discussions (meetings, arguments) & messing up my words
Always assuming people didn’t need or want to hear from me
Examples my clients may present with include
Not being heard, valued, seen or recognised
Imposter syndrome
Never getting the role or being pipped by the same type of person
Playing small
People pleasing
Attracting the same type of partner, boss, colleagues or friends that don’t work out
The same reason for the same outcome with the same result and many more….
So, on this Groundhog Day take a moment to explore your own eye-roll moments, repetitive themes that seem to follow you around or hump day frustrations & what they might represent.
Do they tend to pop up at certain times (especially when we’re growing)?
Do they block you or hold you back (even if you can rationalise it)?
Do they repeat over and over and over (they maybe trying to get your attention)
The hidden drivers to our limits are the reason we can have PROFOUND self growth through these repeated patterns or ‘Groundhog Day moments.
As I always say, these triggers & roadblocks (Groundhog Day moments) are your signposts to growth!
They have a purpose in showing you where to grow, if you are aspirational & growth minded follow the signposts!
I would love to know what the repeated themes are for you, are you noticing them?
Share with me in the comments to know you’re not alone and they pop up to help your grow.