Let's Talk About Patterns

I follow a dictionary on Instagram. @merriamwebster is not only interesting and educational, it's also got a terrific sense of humor.  

Posts include a word-of-the-day complete with etymology and definition, as well as a short summary called 'did you know?'  that is guaranteed to make you smile. Check it out sometime. 

It was here where I first learned about ablaut reduplication, an unspoken rule of word patterns where the first vowel is 'I' and the second and third are either 'A' or 'O', or 'A' and then 'O'.

The form it takes is always I-A-O, like tik-tac-toe or big-bad-wolf. Dilly-dally, wibbly-wobbly, stinky-stonky and hip-hop. Are you seeing it?

The thing about this rule, few people even know they're following it. I certainly didn't.

After a quick line of questioning with Mr. Google I learned it has something to do with words that form in the front of the mouth and then move to the back of the mouth, and that it's common across languages, not just English.

In other words, it's about comfort. It feels better to speak in this pattern, even if we have no idea we're doing it, or that it has a name. Patterns, I think, are everywhere.

Could there be other patterns you're following, in speech or behavior, maybe unwittingly?

What are the unwritten rules that guide you, and what do you think they're rooted in?

Are they working for you, or making things less comfortable?

If you could alter the pattern of your day (week, month), what would you change first?

As your coach, I'm listening closely to how you speak and noticing sequences in your behavior. I'm paying attention to words you use when describing your current situation, or situations in your life that seem to be repeating.

Maybe it's a packed schedule that forces you to zig-zag, cancelling or moving plans each week, or maybe it's a pattern of putting others first, at the expense of your own health and physical well-being. Whatever it is, I'm sharing with you what I see and hear, like holding up a mirror.

Sometimes it takes a person on the outside, like a coach or a dictionary's Instagram page, to notice behaviors and maybe even assign them a name. You can learn a lot about yourself just by observing your own patterns, would you agree?

Whether you agree or disagree, reach out for a chit-chat, I'd love to hear from you. And I promise, no jibber jabber.