Break the Pattern--By Linda Kozar

Middle Eastern Food

We've all heard that breaking habits and patterns in your life can lead to more creative thought. But have you thought about actually doing it?

When my girls were little, I took them to the Houston Zoo (when the temperature was under triple digits). One of our favorite activities was watching the bears. One black bear in particular walked a circuit in his habitat--all day, every day. The path was well worn and he only veered off of it to eat and sleep.

In my best bear voice, I used to say, "I'm thinking about starting a new path, maybe by that rock over there. It's gonna happen today, no kidding."

But then as the bear approached the rock, I would say, "Noooo, not today. Changed my mind. It's not gonna happen."

That bear never wavered from his pattern. He never experienced anything new or challenging. We felt sorry for him. But sometimes, you and I are like that bear.

But we don't have to be! We can change things up. Sit in a different chair or pew in church! Take a different way home from work. Park in a different spot when you go to the grocery store or mall. Eat your meals at a different time. Try new foods! The picture above is a wonderful meal I had at a Middle Eastern restaurant. My favorite was the Baba Ganoush with smoked paprika. Delicious!

The point is to break patterns and habits. We become stale, even toxic in them. Stuck in our ways. And who wants to be stuck in the muck of repetitive actions? Not me. Hopefully not you either! Here are a few tips:

• Dream big. Not just big--but bigger than is possible. And then think about ways you could make that big dream a big reality.
• Rewrite the problem. If you have a problem  (and who doesn't?) think about solving that problem a different way. Write down the obstacles and your ideas for overcoming them.
• Work backward. Some authors begin with the end of a book and work their way back.
• Release your creativity in another venue. To spark creative thought, buy some modeling clay and mold an object. Or paint. Crochet. Work on a craft project. Sing! Play an instrument.

I know what you're thinking right now.

"I'm thinking about starting a new path, maybe by that rock over there. It's gonna happen today, no kidding." 

But you'd better not be like that bear.

Let me know if these ideas work for you. Have a creative week, my friends.

Linda Kozar is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” eBooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). Strands of Fate released October 2012 (Hardcover/Ebook, Creative Woman Mysteries) and her nonfiction title, Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation, released in 2013 (Indie-Published). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 24 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda Kozar is the author of six books. Her latest, titled “Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation,” is a collection of stories from people who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when they moved. www.lindakozar.com  http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com