People With Childlike Pattern Recognition Usually Say 8 Phrases In Casual Conversation
PeopleImages | Shutterstock We’re all familiar with the story of Peter Pan, a perpetual boy who was extremely curious and playful. Of course, that’s a fairy tale, but some people actually do carry this energy their whole lives. Instead of being so uptight about everything, they let themselves be present in a way that's almost child-like.
This doesn't mean they're immature, simply that when others accept things at face value, they challenge the world around them. They follow their curiosity and that allows them to see patterns that others often miss. Here are a few ways they do this.
People with childlike pattern recognition often say these phrases in casual conversations:
1. 'Why is that?'
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When I hang out with my friends’ kids, they all have one thing in common. They're not embarrassed to ask "why?" and any surface explanation you give them may not be enough. They want to know more and fully grasp what’s going on around them.
Sometimes this magical quality can get lost in adulthood. We go along with the status quo and stay in line when we could be dissecting the world around us. Asking "why" can sometimes leave adults feeling overwhelmed.
People who have childlike pattern recognition might find themselves wondering why things are a certain way, and what would happen if they changed. They have an active imagination that tempts them to play around with scenarios, not always drawing them to settle on what everyone around them deems as ‘right.’
This ability to spot what's true allows them to understand what’s going on in the world around them in a way that's truly unique.
2. ‘Let’s take this further’
People with childlike pattern recognition aren’t afraid to push the boundaries. They want to see what more they can learn, and how they can change the outcome for the better. It might be easy for them to collaborate on an idea with someone else. Their perspective can be completely different from what others would expect.
Childhood is filled with wonder. Kids are always looking to put the pieces together to understand the world around them. Someone who still carries that attitude in adulthood might find joy in playing around with problems, solutions, and ideas.
3. ‘I noticed you always do this’
People who have a childlike pattern recognition are often observant. They’re caught up in the world around them every chance they get, which means they are watching how the people in their lives act. They notice when people have certain qualities or do the same behaviors over and over again. They find patterns in everything.
This type of person may know it’s important to be observant without being overbearing. They don’t want others to get annoyed with them, but they do want to talk about what they observe and connect the dots when able. Often, this skill makes them into fantastic creative artists or even scientists. Any career where your job is to explore is greatly helped by this childlike curiosity.
4. ‘I see a connection there’
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It’s not surprising that someone who picks up on patterns notices connections. They may see things other people don’t. Their minds are always trying to put things together. Why are things like that? What can we learn from them? They have a wonder that some adults have lost over time.
Sometimes, some people may find patterns and connections that don’t actually exist. Random, unrelated events might show similarities other people miss, or even some that aren’t actually real. They’re playful and willing to connect the dots at any time, but that doesn't make them perfect.
5. ‘I knew this was going to happen’
Along with pattern recognition is a sense of predictability. Perhaps they’ve viewed the same things happen time and time again. They can nearly tell exactly what will happen before anyone else in the room does. They put a lot of time into thinking and assessing everything around them. Knowing what’s going to happen before it does is a skill they’ve picked up through being observant.
A study did find, however, that people who observe constant patterns may experience false insights. That’s to be expected, as not every event follows the same script and it can be easy to become overconfident when you've had success in the past.
6. ‘That doesn’t make sense’
Someone like this is often looking for sense in things. When something isn’t clicking, they want to know why. They may ask a million questions until they can put the pieces together. If something doesn’t make sense to them, they aren’t afraid to get to the bottom of it.
It’s not uncommon for someone who asks a lot of questions to feel a bit anxious and to cope with it by asking too many. They want to have a proper grip on the conversations and situations around them, and without it, they may panic.
7. ‘Let’s experiment with that idea’
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Who doesn’t want to take risks by trying something new? Me, that’s who. I’m afraid of stepping outside of my routine and disrupting my daily life. Instead of experimenting, especially with my ideas that could change my life, I continue the same way I’ve always been.
But people who still have a sense of childlike curiosity don't mind. They see the growth potential in taking that risk. I think I need to adopt a childlike attitude towards some things.
People with pattern recognition can see how things turn out because things are the same day in and day out. When something new strikes them, they may want to experiment with it to see what comes of it. Childlike wonder can encourage people to step outside of the box. They may be more prone to embracing the unknown.
8. ‘This doesn’t seem like a coincidence’
When someone is constantly observing patterns, they may find connections. Things others would blow off as coincidences are more important to them. They’ve noticed it before. It’s easy for them to see things as a connection, not a random act of luck.
Some people believe coincidences don't exist. The world operates the way it does for a reason. They see things as synchronic, not random. Yes, this can go too far at times and Occam's razor is usually true. But when someone is observing patterns extremely closely, the connections aren't as random as they may seem to others.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
