Are you living life on autopilot? How would you characterize your existence? Is it filled with wonder, excitement, creativity, and boundless joy? Or does it resemble a repetitive cycle, much like the movie Groundhog Day?
Winston Churchill once defined history as one damn thing after another. Does this resonate with your perception of life? To truly embrace life, a shift in perspective is necessary. It’s crucial to become consciously aware of your actions, emotions, and daily environment. Consider whether these aspects of your life elevate or diminish you.
The most significant challenge we face as humans is spending the majority of our conscious hours dwelling on the past, fretting about the future, or fixating on the next task. This mindset often blinds us to the present moment, causing us to overlook the miracle of existence.
For many, this miracle is overshadowed. As a result, our lives become dictated by what we deem important. When we disengage from autopilot, we often discover that what we thought mattered, in fact, holds little significance.
Have you ever pondered how you arrived at your current situation? Or questioned if this is where you want to be and if this is the life you aspire to lead? It’s intriguing that many individuals, both in professional and personal contexts, have never posed these questions to themselves. When they finally do, they may realize that they’ve been living life on autopilot.
Here’s the reality of an autopilot existence: happiness ceases to be a priority. We abandon the dreams we once cherished. Our creative energies are suppressed. We cease to imagine and lose the sense of wonder we possessed as children. We forget or mentally block out the passions of our youth and the promises we made to ourselves about what we would do and experience. These become the ‘could have beens‘ of our lives, emotions, and feelings that hark back to our unrealized dreams. They seem no longer attainable, achievable, or even realistic.
As adults, we undoubtedly shoulder a multitude of responsibilities. I’m not suggesting that you disregard them entirely. Our professional and personal commitments are indeed necessary. But do we overcommit to an unrealistic, superhuman extent, convincing ourselves that we are responsible for others’ happiness? Do we view every action as a means to an end? Or do we feel the need to stand out from the crowd?
As the navigators of our lives, unfortunately, none of these approaches will lead us to fulfillment. Why is this the case? Simply because we neglect our own happiness and well-being, subordinating our needs, wants, and desires to those of others. On the surface, this may seem selfless, generous, and kind. However, when we fail to acknowledge our own needs, wants, and desires, we essentially tell ourselves that we don’t matter. A life lived on autopilot eventually prevents us from recognizing our own worth and experiencing what truly matters to us, leading to a lack of wholeness in mind, body, and spirit.
To break free from the monotony of living life on autopilot is to attune to the whispers of our heart’s yearnings. It’s pivotal, for autopilot mode numbs us to our genuine sentiments and passions. We drift away from the essence of who we are, and in the process, we inadvertently distance ourselves from others. We fall into a pattern of endless doing, rendering our actions seemingly insignificant.
Life was never meant to be perceived as futile. It shouldn’t lack the vibrancy of dreams, the spark of imagination, the flourish of creativity, or the joy of happiness. Spare a moment to peer inward. Question yourself: Is the existence I’m leading the one I aspire to? Don’t let the response intimidate you! Rather, let it be the catalyst for a transformation of how you perceive yourself and your surroundings. Embrace this moment as a chance to decelerate, to savor life’s simple pleasures, like the fragrance of roses. And then, in another precious moment, celebrate your own being!
If you are having difficulty breaking free from a life lived on autopilot, contact us for an introductory coaching session.
Written by: Jon Satin
Jon Satin and Chris Pattay – The Possibility Coaches™
©Possibility Coaches, LLC