The Antidote to Autopilot Living
Have YOU ever gotten to the end of the day with NO IDEA where the time went?
Or driven to the cleaners with ZERO recollection of the drive between point A and point B?
Maybe you notice that you’re RACING from meeting to meeting- feeling like your hair is on fire…
…With NO IDEA why you’re even going AT ALL.
You LONG for a few minutes to feel like you’re CENTERED again…
Like you just need a MOMENT to plug back into your own LIFE.
P.S. It’s NOT JUST YOU.
What we REALLY CRAVE instead of this relentless autopilot living is a few moments of calm focused awareness….
To be PRESENT for the moments that make up our lives.
My secret weapon when I’m feeling like this is to STOP multi-tasking and START breathing deeply.
To engage deeply in one task- the one at hand- and experience it fully.
As a bonus reward, then I get up and take a walk outside to reset, refocus and refresh.
Here’s a simple way to try this MINDFUL present moment awareness to PLUG IN to your own life:
Pick a single task that you do every day- like making coffee, walking the dog, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, driving to work…. Make this easy.
Decide that this will be the habit you do with mindful present moment awareness.
You might want a sticky note reminder to jog your memory as you try this new habit.
When you do this task, only do one thing.
Before you start, take a deep breath and say to yourself- “I am going to make coffee (insert your habit).” Bonus points if you take a breath and smile as you say this.
Just do this one thing. No cheating by also checking your phone or doing a load of laundry.
Pay attention to the motions, the sights, smells, sounds, surroundings. Let this be a new and fascinating experience- as if you’re doing it for the first time.
Pay simple attention to the task at hand- with all of your senses. Pay particular attention to bodily sensations and emotions that are associated with the task. Pay attention to how it feels to slow down, breath and be aware of what is actually happening.
Practice noticing.
How do you feel?
What do you notice when you’re only doing this one thing with care and concern?
When you’re finished with the task, simply say “thank you” to yourself for taking this time to notice and be aware of what is happening.
Try this for a week. You can keep a journal if you like… optional.
The practice is the noticing. That’s it.
Simple, right? AND it can be quite profound.
Try it and let me know what you think!
