How to break a Strange Loop

Last week I saw the new musical by Michael R. Jackson,  A Strange Loop and it made me think about the loops in my life. The key character in the play was a gay usher who wanted to write a musical about his coming out to share who he was with his family and audience. He initially allowed his thought patterns to limit development of his story throughout the show (his inner conscience was played by the other 6 cast members). There are no spoiler alerts here, except that by the end he overcame his inner obstacles to create a musical nominated for 11 Tony Awards. 

The key takeaway from the play is that we often limit our internal beliefs by not being able to accept the reality around us.  As author, Mark Manson shares in a recent article  about being stuck, this is similiar to an elephant being tied to a pole. If we open our eyes to new possibilities, we can move forward and incorporate changes into our lives. We are each responsible for our own stories.

The saying “love is blind” applies to many aspects of our lives. You may be in a trancelike state when you start something new or likewise idealize a situation you face. Often your endorphins are on high alert and the dopamine’s create a sense of comfort for you. On the flip side, you may experience extreme anger when something doesn’t go the way you expect. Sometimes you blame others and stage yourself as the victim.

 

Once the experience begins to level off you need to look introspectively. This should be a wake-up call.  Pay attention to the inner and outer voices around you. Accept when it is time to move on. Take ownership of the positive and negatives in your life and use them as opportunities to heighten self-awareness and personal development. Sometimes outside intervention can be helpful to attain emotional balance. 

If you continue to stay "stuck in the loop" you will not be true to yourself.  You are only causing yourself damage. People change as do thought patterns. We each need to accept this and move on. Allow each day to open doors and windows. This may mean you need to get out of your head and process reactions from those around you. Use these experiences to become self-aware and open to new beginnings. If not, you may not be able to create your story and will continue to stay stuck in A Strange Loop.

Wendy is a Realtor and Freelance writer residing on Cape Cod. She enjoys networking and writing to connect her ideas and curiosities with people she meets.   She welcomes your comments.