LJMO: Let's Just Move On

Ever process something? Then process it again...and again...and again?? It can be good or bad, a positive way of thinking or negative way of thinking. But it isn't fun when it's on the yuck side. And when you are stuck in the yuck, it can feel like what the muck.

Stuck Happens

Experts in the study of the brain tell us that the brain forms pathways. Some paths get used more than others. When that happens, there becomes a preferred pathway for the brain.

Our family deals with stuck pathways. Our son is overcoming autism. For someone on the autism spectrum, pathways become further strengthened as they get used over and over. Repetitive behaviors or thought patterns are something that can form because of this pathway loop.

One expert in the field helped me to think of it like this: a brain pathway that forms is like a tire mark formed by a truck going down a muddy road. For someone with the challenge of autism, it is as if the truck travels down that same road on the same exact path over and over again, making a very deep rut. That deep rut can sometimes be really tough to get out of.

Getting unstuck

Is it possible to get out of the rut? Anything is possible for those who believe.

Half of the battle of getting out of a rut is knowing that you are in one! Awareness is key that unlocks the door to a new way.

First, we realized our son needed help being aware that he was in a rut.

One of his ruts happens during conversations. He can bring up a topic many times. And, have the same conversation and process something...over and over...and over again. When he starts to bring up a topic that we have already discussed, we worked together with him to come up with a phrase. What really worked?

LJMO: Let's Just Move On.

LJMO has become our signal for when things get rutty before either of us gets nutty! It's our way of saying, "Let's Just Move On". And guess what? It helps. The other day, our son even stopped himself. He was bringing up a topic that he had brought up many times before, and then said, "Hey, LJMO. Let's just move on." and he changed the topic.

Need to get out of a rut, too?

I feel that whatever my son's challenges are, I get to learn from them, too. We all can get stuck in a rut. Been there, done that.

Maybe you are in a rut of some yuck that you have been dealing with for quite some time. Maybe it is a situation that has been repeating itself in not a good way over and over...and over again.

So, maybe this phrase may help right now, too. LJMO. Let's just move on.

But the next question is what to move on to???

Here is some great wisdom: think about what ever is good, what ever is decent, what ever is a positive story, think about that instead.