Shortcuts
“The quickest way to see the dream is to notice the loops repeating.”
Red-Flag Words That Signal a Loop
Beliefs often hide in language. Certain words act like shortcuts — they flatten complex reality into rigid categories, making a story feel absolute when it’s really just a loop reinforcing ego identity.
When you notice these words in your thoughts, it’s a strong sign that you’re not in clarity — you’re inside a loop.
Common Shortcuts
Always → “I always screw this up.”
Never → “People never respect me.”
Impossible → “It’s impossible for me to change.”
Forever → “I’ll feel this way forever.”
Should → “I should be better by now.”
Everyone / No one → “Everyone leaves me,” “No one understands.”
Why They Matter
These words collapse nuance. They turn one moment into an eternal rule.
They create ego maintenance loops — stories like “I’m the broken one” or “I’m the one who can’t.”
They rarely generate new insight. They just recycle the same emotional charge (shame, guilt, fear).
Debugging the Shortcut
When you catch a shortcut, pause and reframe it into something more precise and time-bound.
Instead of “I always screw this up” → “I made a mistake this time.”
Instead of “I’ll feel this way forever” → “I feel this way right now.”
Instead of “No one cares” → “I didn’t feel cared for in that moment.”
Precision dissolves the loop.
Remember
Shortcuts don’t reveal truth. They reveal where the ego is clinging. Spotting them is the first step to stepping free.