The
Autopilot Impulse
Summer
is ending. We've taken our vacations, school is starting,
temperatures are dropping, and it's back to work.
Do you
know what that means? That means that we are in danger of shifting
into autopilot mode.
When we're busy or overwhelmed, we
tend to impulsively relinquish conscious control of our lives, and
allow old habits and patterns to take over. Not only can we get
off track in terms of our big goals, but we may also end up
missing out on our lives.
Anyone who drives is probably
familiar with the classic example of autopilot. Have you ever been
driving home on unfamiliar roads, thinking or planning, not really
paying attention, and suddenly you find yourself at home? You
don't remember driving. You may have missed a beautiful sunset or
a rainbow. When we place our lives on autopilot we wind up missing
out on much of the richness and fullness that our living
experience has to offer.
Life is short. Don't miss
it.
Here's another example of where autopilot can lead us.
Have you even been driving on familiar roads, not really paying
attention, and suddenly you find yourself someplace familiar -
maybe home or a favorite store - but not where you were going? Or
perhaps, you're just driving straight ahead, thinking or planning,
and you miss a turn or drive past your destination? I've done this
more than once. The previous example of autopilot is how we end up
missing out on the fullness of our lives, but this example is more
dangerous. This is how people end up completely off track in their
lives.
Imagine how many wrong turns a person can make if
they spend years on autopilot. And then they wake up one morning
and say, "Hey, how did I get here?"
This month let's resist
our tendency to take the autopilot shortcuts. Let's practice
remaining in control of our lives, staying the course, even
stopping to savor the beauty of autumn despite the impulse to save
time and energy with autopilot.
I'm inviting you to resist
autopilot in two ways: Staying the Course, and Savoring a
Beautiful Day.
Staying
the Course
Staying
the course means keeping on track and remaining focused on who and
where you want to be. The methods to stay the course are very
simple. And while it's not always easy, you absolutely CAN remain
on track by building structure, accountability, and support into
your life.
Structure: How will you arrange your environment
and your time in order to stay on track? Here are some ideas. You
can place written reminders in conspicuous places. You can make a
list of your priorities, and remind yourself why staying on track
is important to you. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People, author Steven Covey describes how we end up spending much
time performing activities that are urgent but not important. Look
at your daily schedule and make sure you plan enough time for what
is important to you.
Accountability: Don't keep your
intention to stay the course a secret. Write it down and be
accountable. It may be enough to be accountable to yourself, but
it's often useful to have an accountability partner, a coach or a
friend or family member with whom you promise to check in
regularly. Someone who will help you remember what you're doing
and why, especially on those tough days when you're more prone
toward letting go. It's critical that you choose someone you trust
and feel safe with because they may be tough on you. That's what
you want.
Support: Complete your plan to stay the course by
making sure you have the support you need to stay on track. Ask
for help when you need it, be in touch with the supportive people
in your life, broaden your circle of support if necessary, and
build whatever support you need to stay on track into your daily
and weekly structure.
This is your life. Stay the course,
it's worth it!
Savoring
a Beautiful Day!
Fall
is about to be upon us. Here in the Northeast, autumn offers a
rich banquet for the senses. The crisp feel of the autumn air, the
brilliant landscape as mother natures shows off her most exquisite
colors, the smell of a crackling fireplace, the taste of a hearty
bowl of soup, and the sound of dried leaves crunching beneath your
feet. Fall offers so many choices for stopping and savoring the
pleasures of life. I invite you to take some time and savor the
pleasures of a beautiful day!
Find a slice of time, if you
can't devote an entire day, find at least two hours, and choose an
experience to savor. You can savor a walk or drive in nature, a
delicious meal, time with friends or family, beautiful music, even
a movie. You can savor anything so you choose.
Savoring is
simple. Luxuriate in the experience, take it slowly, notice all
the sensations, the pleasures, the thoughts, feelings, and combat
any desire to rush through your savoring. Whatever you do, don't
multitask! Multitasking is a surefire way to spoil your savoring
experience.
You can intensify savoring by sharing the
experience, stopping to take a deep breath as you begin,
consciously taking it slowly, or basking in the moment. One of my
personal favorite methods for intensifying a beautiful experience
is to sharpen my senses. I purposely focus on one aspect of the
experience, for example, on a drive through the country I may
close my eyes for a moment (if I'm not the driver). When I open
them, I focus on seeing - really seeing - all the different vivid
colors and shapes there are to see.
Sometimes I'll savor a
small piece of chocolate, like a Hershey's Kiss and allow it to
completely melt in my mouth, relishing the mouthfeel, the shape,
and how the flavor changes from beginning to end. I never bite
into it, I just delight in the entire experience. The experience
of savoring a chocolate kiss is so much better than just gobbling
it down while reading the mail. And you would be amazed at how
long a small piece of chocolate can last!
So, savor a
beautiful experience, and then, savor another sometime soon. Give
yourself back the beautiful moments of your life - one by
one.
_________________________________________________
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free to forward this mailing.
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www.positiveplan.com
SAVOR A BEAUTIFUL SEPTEMBER.
SEE YOU IN
OCTOBER!
Michelle
______________
A Life
Coach can help you stay the course, and can help you remain
engaged, off autopilot, and fully present in your life!
|
Quotes
of the Month
"I
get up every morning determined both to change the world and have
one hell of a good time. Sometimes, this makes planning the day
difficult.”
E.B. White
"A thing of beauty is a joy
forever; it's loveliness never ceases; it will never pass into
nothingness."
John Keats
"Let me tell you the secret
that has led me to my goal: My strength lies solely in my
tenacity."
Louis
Pasteur |
