Autopilot
It seems society is in a rush to switch everything to automatic. Development of the self-driving car is just one example where technology seeks to literally take over the act of driving, but there are many other areas of life where we no longer need to be aware. It’s easy to fall into a habit of simply clocking out.
We make purchases from our phones and have them delivered to our front doors. We have vacuum cleaners that sweep on their own, restaurants that make and deliver meals, movies delivered to our pockets, photos instantly available, games on demand at the click of a button. We can go to the bank, pay bills, join meetings, and go to work without leaving our living rooms.
We edit all activities to make them “easier”, but when we have more time, how do we use it? Even with all the extra assistance instead of being enriched, life often ends up on autopilot. Unfulfilled by the experience of life, we cram more activities into our schedules, or just stop caring. We exist, but we don’t really LIVE.
We pour the same bowl of cereal for breakfast. Dress the same way. Work the same job. Microwave the same meal. Sit in the same chair. Click through the same channels. Stare at phones. Binge shows or play video games. Scroll mindlessly through social media.
We go through the daily motions without much thought.
Routine isn’t the enemy, of course! Without it, life quickly spins out of control or grinds to a halt. But like anything, we can take it too far, especially when we glaze over and stop recognizing and appreciating the moment-by-moment experiences.
So this week, if you feel like you’re on autopilot, why not take a step or two to shake yourself loose? Change your hairdo. Change the way you answer your phone or sign your emails. Go outside and throw a frisbee. Bust out a board game. Call a friend and go for a walk. Play a game of charades. Try a totally new type of food or drink in the morning.
And when you make the change, try being present, aware. Pay attention to your senses—How does your morning beverage look? Smell? Taste? What temperature is it? Try to describe the experience as if you are a food critic. Think about the act of drinking. How does your body respond to each sip? As you sit for a moment, look out the window. What colors do you see? Do you hear any birds? Even small observations can snap us out of autopilot.
Enjoy the moments of being present and aware. You may be surprised at what you see when you take control and push autopilot to the back seat, even for a few minutes!
Challenges/Points:
Many areas of our life are completed for us without any real thought on our part, prompting us to move through life on autopilot.
Choose a stretch of time and try to be totally aware of your senses. Make note of what you see, hear, taste, feel, think.
Make some small changes to your normal routine and see what happens.
Questions:
Do you find yourself going through the motions, existing, but not fully living your life?
Do you ever pay attention to a simple act that you do every day? When you do, what do you notice?
Do you want to stop running on autopilot and pay more attention to what makes life meaningful?
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