Mental conditioning is created through the repetition of patterns. These patterns of living become normal and comfortable. The more comfortable we become with how things are, the more abnormal change and growth can seem. When we become so conditioned with the patterns that make up our lives, we can overlook why we do what we do. Some of the patterns that we have adopted from other people we may have never even learned the reasons or meaning behind them. When we consider why we do what we do, we can determine its value. Whether what we do is beneficial or detrimental.
There was a psychological experiment done on a dog to see how the repetition of conditions affects the mind. The test had a dog on a run that set the limits to how far the dog to go. With the dog on the run they put a big chunk of meat just outside his limits. When the dog saw the meat he took off to reach it, but when he got to the end of the run he was yanked back. This went on for a number of days, until one day the dog walked to the end on the run and laid down facing the meat. Through repetition the dog learned where his boundary lines were. The man running the test lengthened the distance of the run so the dog could reach the meat, but when the dog came outside he walked to the end of the old run and laid down. Then the next day that man took the collar off the dog, and when the dog came outside he walked to the original run length and laid down.
Through repetition the dog learned that he could only go so far, and that the meat he wanted was out of reach. The dog became so familiar with this pattern that when the conditions changed he did not. To the point that the dog was set free, only to be found to operate in bondage.
Sometimes there are things we have learned that are not actually true. There can be boundaries that we operate within that seem beneficial, but in reality keep us from realizing our God given potential. Sometimes the things that will actually create growth in our lives can seem to be out of bounds. Breaking out of the comfort of our patterns can create fresh perspectives. These perspectives can help us consider the question “why”. Because when you consider why you do what you do you can determine if that pattern is based off of an idea of bondage or freedom.