Ever had an amazing idea in the shower that escaped you at your desk?
That’s not random.
Your brain loves familiar patterns. It runs the same mental loops, hits the same walls, and keeps you stuck in the same thinking—until something breaks the pattern.
This is the pattern interrupt technique, one of the most powerful tools in NLP.
Here’s how it works:
When you’re stuck in a problem, your brain is literally stuck in a neurological state. Same neural firing patterns. Same biochemistry. Same limited perspective.
You can’t think your way out of this state because the thinking itself is part of the state.
The solution? Interrupt the pattern with a sudden state change:
– Stand up if you’ve been sitting
– Change your breathing pattern dramatically
– Move your body in an unexpected way
– Shift your focus to something completely unrelated
– Change your voice tone, volume or pace
This creates a brief neurological gap—a moment when your brain isn’t running its usual program.
In this gap, new thinking becomes possible.
When you physically change states, you:
1. Activate different neural networks
2. Alter your biochemistry
3. Access memories and resources unavailable in your stuck state
4. Break habitual thinking patterns
The power of pattern interruption explains why:
– You get ideas in the shower
– Problems seem clearer after a walk
– Sleeping on decisions leads to better choices
– Changing environments sparks creativity
I use pattern interruption with every executive I coach. The mental clarity that emerges often solves problems they’ve been stuck on for months.
Next time you’re spinning on a challenge,
Try this: stand up, change your physiology completely, and approach the problem from this new state.
The solution might be one pattern interrupt away.
What problem have you been overthinking lately? Comment below, and I’ll suggest a specific pattern interrupt that might help you see it differently.
Found this helpful? Repost on your social media so your network can break their loops too.
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