Patterns in Behaviour

The world is full of patterns. Sometimes they are irregular, like the edges of coastlines. They can mirror Mr Miyagi’s famous saying, “same, but different” – like snowflakes are the same, but each one is different and unique.

In the video above, there are patterns to the movement of people and traffic across this busy Tokyo intersection. People and traffic move in rhythmic pulses, like blood moves around our body. These patterns not only help describe what’s going on, they also help predict what might happen. For example, you can predict that once the traffic stops, people will flood across the intersection in all directions. You know that will happen because you can read the pattern. You can also predict that if someone tries to cross the intersection when the cars are everywhere, they could well be in for trouble.

There are also patterns in people’s behaviour. For example, some people usually have trouble with change. They don’t like it and avoid it if they can. They rarely choose it, and if they are forced into it, they usually resist and complain. Other people fare much better with change. They actively seek it out and are always looking for new ventures and new things to do. They love the new.

Why do these patterns exist? What is going on here?

The patterns exist because of how people think, the psychological resources they possess, and the stories they tell. This is called ‘change fitness‘. Just as the traffic lights control the patterns across the intersection, so change fitness controls people’s patterns around change. The more change fitness you have, the more successful your patterns are in relation to change – and, therefore, life.

At The Change Gym, we specialise in these patterns and we can show you how to develop good ones. Talk to us today about how we can help you.

Dr Steve Barlow