6 Simple Steps To Overcoming Autopilot And Creating Your Dream Life

[00:00:03] You are listening to Resilient Life, the podcast where we explore the power of resiliency.

[00:00:10] I'm Nikita Ross.

[00:00:12] It is my hope that listeners of this podcast will give you the tools to connect with and

[00:00:18] increase your resiliency.

[00:00:20] So join me on this adventure of self discovery and self love.

[00:00:29] Hey Resilient Knights, I'm glad you're here.

[00:00:32] I'm Nikita Ross, your go-to person for human resilience and I'm here to guide you toward

[00:00:37] living your best life.

[00:00:39] Today we're exploring another powerful tool in our resilience building arsenal.

[00:00:44] We're tackling a sneaky little culprit that many of us don't even realize we're dealing

[00:00:49] with.

[00:00:50] The quietest habitager I'm talking about is operating on autopilot.

[00:00:54] Yeah, you heard me right.

[00:00:56] You might be traveling through life with cruise control on.

[00:01:00] Let's understand what autopilot means.

[00:01:03] I want to point out that autopilot is difficult for me to explain but I will do my best and

[00:01:09] hopefully make sense.

[00:01:10] Ask yourself what drives you?

[00:01:13] What's your motivation for getting out of bed in the morning?

[00:01:16] When you start your day and do the things that you usually do throughout the day, is

[00:01:21] it because you have to, you're supposed to or is it because you want to?

[00:01:26] Well, autopilot is the state of mind where we act without conscious awareness or thought.

[00:01:32] We go through our daily routines without really engaging or being present or fully aware of

[00:01:38] what we are doing or why we are doing it.

[00:01:41] When we're an autopilot, we tend to go through our daily routine without actually paying

[00:01:47] attention to what we're doing.

[00:01:49] We may not even remember certain parts of our day as our minds were elsewhere.

[00:01:55] It's like being essentially like autopilot in your car.

[00:01:59] Similarly, we can do that in our lives.

[00:02:03] OK, we have a working definition.

[00:02:06] So let's figure out if you're on autopilot.

[00:02:09] The first sign is a lack of awareness.

[00:02:12] I know you never lack awareness.

[00:02:14] But humor me please.

[00:02:16] Have you ever driven somewhere, arrived and had little to no recollection of the

[00:02:21] journey or maybe you're halfway through your morning coffee or tea and you realize

[00:02:26] you don't even remember making it.

[00:02:28] Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions of life without really

[00:02:33] being present in the moment?

[00:02:35] These little moments are dead giveaways.

[00:02:39] It's like our brains hit snooze while our bodies go through the motions.

[00:02:45] Well, that's a sign of being an autopilot.

[00:02:48] OK, let's dive deeper into this and learn how to find

[00:02:51] and identify, understand and break free from this automated way of living.

[00:02:58] Another sign that you're on autopilot is a lack of focus and concentration.

[00:03:02] When we're autopilot, we tend to multitask and do things simultaneously without

[00:03:07] giving our full attention to any of them.

[00:03:10] This can lead to not making genuine connections, making mistakes or missing important details.

[00:03:18] Lastly, a lack of enjoyment or fulfillment in our daily activities can indicate that we

[00:03:25] are on autopilot.

[00:03:26] When we're not fully engaged, we're not really present in the moment and we miss out

[00:03:32] on the simple pleasures and experiences of life.

[00:03:35] Now, why do we slip into autopilot mode?

[00:03:39] Glad you asked.

[00:03:40] There are a couple of reasons.

[00:03:42] Our brains are wired to conserve energy.

[00:03:44] Our brains are constantly processing a huge amount of information and it takes a lot of

[00:03:50] energy.

[00:03:51] So to make things easier, our brains create routines and shortcuts and patterns to help

[00:03:56] us navigate through our life and our day efficiently.

[00:03:59] This can be helpful, but it can also lead to mindless living.

[00:04:04] Moreover, the constant pressure to be productive and achieve more can increase our stress,

[00:04:11] which can make things worse.

[00:04:13] Pushing us to retreat into autopilot as a coping mechanism.

[00:04:17] It's like our minds are saying, wake me up when this is over.

[00:04:22] We tend to focus on the end goal and rush through our tasks.

[00:04:28] I know it sounds handy, right?

[00:04:30] But here's the catch.

[00:04:31] Life becomes a never-ending series of these shortcuts and this can lead to a kind

[00:04:38] of mental detachment.

[00:04:39] We start missing out on the little joys, the details, ultimately the richness of our

[00:04:45] lives and we're not even enjoying the process of living.

[00:04:50] Another possible reason that you are on autopilot is that you have experienced

[00:04:56] trauma.

[00:04:57] Sometimes the things that we saw or experienced were too much for us and our

[00:05:04] brains out of protection started checking out because it felt too overwhelming to

[00:05:08] face or to remember what happened.

[00:05:11] It's also the reason why some people numb life with drugs or alcohol.

[00:05:16] There is something or multiple some things that they do not want to face, cannot

[00:05:22] face, they can't handle and they can't deal with it so they numb.

[00:05:25] So what can we do to break free from autopilot mode and live more

[00:05:31] mindfully?

[00:05:32] I'm glad you asked.

[00:05:33] Here are some tips.

[00:05:34] Number one, find a good therapist.

[00:05:37] There are things that you may need help working through to help you get off of

[00:05:41] autopilot.

[00:05:42] You may not be able to do it alone too.

[00:05:44] Practice mindfulness.

[00:05:46] I know I said all the time, but being mindful, it helps us become more

[00:05:52] aware of our thoughts, emotions and surroundings.

[00:05:56] Engaging in mindfulness activities like meditation, yoga or simply taking a

[00:06:01] moment to focus on our breath can help break us free from autopilot mode.

[00:06:08] Number three, change things up.

[00:06:10] Routines and patterns can easily put us on autopilot mode.

[00:06:14] So try changing things up.

[00:06:16] It can be as simple as taking a different route to work or trying a new hobby.

[00:06:21] This helps our brain stay active and engaged.

[00:06:25] Number four, be present.

[00:06:28] Make a conscious effort to be present in the moment instead of multitasking.

[00:06:33] Focus on one task at a time, pay attention to your surroundings and try

[00:06:38] to notice new things.

[00:06:40] This will help you connect with the present moment and enjoy it more.

[00:06:45] Number five, let go of perfectionism.

[00:06:48] The need to be perfect can also push us into autopilot mode.

[00:06:51] Instead of striving for perfection, focus on doing your best and enjoy

[00:06:56] your process.

[00:06:57] It's okay to make mistakes.

[00:06:59] And number six, lastly, take breaks and give yourself time to recharge.

[00:07:07] Our bodies and our minds, they need rest to function at their best.

[00:07:11] So make sure to take breaks, relax and do things that bring you joy.

[00:07:17] Resilient nights, let's recap.

[00:07:19] Breaking free from autopilot mode may take time and effort, but it's worth it.

[00:07:24] I promise.

[00:07:25] Being more present and engaged in our daily lives can bring a sense of fulfillment

[00:07:29] and joy, who doesn't want to be joyful.

[00:07:32] So let's make a conscious effort to live more mindfully and break free from

[00:07:36] the automated way of living.

[00:07:38] Remember, being an autopilot can be normal from time to time, but it's

[00:07:43] essential to recognize and take steps to break free from it.

[00:07:49] Resilient nights, that's it for today's episode.

[00:07:52] I hope you found inspiration and actionable insights to help you navigate

[00:07:56] your path to living your best life.

[00:07:59] If so, like, subscribe and share with someone who could use a little boost of

[00:08:04] resilience and I'll see you in the next episode.

[00:08:08] I hope this episode gave you some tools to connect with and increase

[00:08:12] your resiliency.

[00:08:14] I'm proud of you.

[00:08:15] Let's keep up the momentum.

[00:08:17] Follow Resilient Life on your favorite podcast platform and on

[00:08:21] YouTube at Resilient Life Podcast.

[00:08:24] Until next time, be kind to yourself and others.