I believe each of us have certain life lessons that we are meant to learn in our lifetime and we are presented with similar situations over and over again until we learn it. Or maybe, for the really difficult lessons — the ones that are embedded deep within our being and tied up in our behaviors— we have to face the same challenge over and over again in order to finally wake up to it. 

Whatever the reason is or how it shows up, it is hard to deny that the path to self is paved in patterns. Some of these patterns are healthy and some are unhealthy. It is the unhealthy patterns that throw us off the path and take us further away from self. And the healthy patterns help set us back on our path. Unhealthy patterns are usually marked with turmoil and pain. The healthy patterns bring a sense of peace and calm.