Expression on patterns

Overview

A key outcome of cathartic release work, focused expression, is the creation of a boundary between you and the pattern. It separates you from the negative aspects of the mother and father of your childhood (from whom you learned the patterns), which now only live inside you. It enables you to be calmer, so that you can manage situations in your life objectively, not with a compulsive and charged reaction.

Using this tool Post-Process

By doing focused expressive work on the patterns you learned in childhood – such as the stamping on them which you did on the Essential weekend – you’re disconnecting from the need for them. You are not your patterns, and doing this work creates a boundary between you and the pattern.

Stamping is just one way of doing this, there are other variations you can try (see below). And do remember to use your voice – it doesn’t need to be loud, but energy moves with the voice. Any sound – even mumbling – is a form of expression. If you use words to express, use the language you spoke as a child (if that’s different to the language you use the most now) – it will have greater impact,

Remember that expression, in whichever variation you choose, is not necessarily about anger. It is about empowerment, about claiming who you are though saying ‘no’ to each of the patterns. You may feel angry, but that is not the goal. The goal is standing up and speaking up for yourself.

Other possibilities:

• Beat a pillow with your fists.
• Throw rocks into the sea, a river or a lake.
• Rip up an old magazine or phone directory. Or whenever recycling cardboard boxes, use it as an opportunity for some bashing
• Scribble on a huge sheet of paper, then rip it up.
• Write a pattern on a small piece of paper, put it in your trainers and run it out, so as each foot hits the ground you bash that pattern out. Or, if you cycle, put stickers on the pedals.
• Put the volume up on some music in the car and shout and sing it out as you drive (make sure you continue to drive safely though!)
• Boxing with a punch bag
• Swimming, expressing with each stroke
• Power walk, imagining the trail is paved with the pattern, stamping on it as you move forward powerfully in your life
• Dance it out to loud music, shaking all the frustration out of your body
• Write about the impact of the pattern on a piece of paper, then burn it.

Remember, the method you use for cathartic release work is not as important as the intention you bring to it. Use your body and voice to release your frustration, or any other feelings you have about the pattern until you are disconnected from it with a sense of relief.

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