How to Live in Awareness Instead of on Autopilot
“Go for it now, the future is promised to no one” -Wayne Dyer
You’re alive, so yes, you are living life! Are you truly living, though? It’s easy to simply exist and go through the motions of each day on autopilot. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and not really remembered doing something you did that day, like driving home from work? As creatures of habit, most of us tend to love routine and the comfort it brings. Who wants to step out of their comfort zone and do something new, and possibly uncomfortable, all the time? Not me!
Staying in your safe zone can be appealing. Everyone wants to feel secure and protected. You might be living a good-enough life, but not necessarily your best life. Are you living in a way in which you’d have no regrets if you were at the end of your time here? At the end will you wish you had taken a leap of faith and left that job, or wish you went all in on that relationship that lit up your soul?
Most of us get in the habit of thinking we’ll get to our dreams and desires one day, just not today. Today we’re just going to stick to our usual, comfortable, good enough life. Living intentionally can help you attain that ultimate, happiest life you long for though.
When I was 16, I started living intentionally. Intentionally following my faith, my dreams, and goals. I took advice from my grandfather to simply start praying every day, and that was the beginning of a huge change in my life. I went from a negative place to positivity. Living the life you dream of starts with one small step, whether that’s reading a book, taking that class, meditating or stepping into the gym. When you decide to make one change, it often opens the door to so many more positive changes. Leave the mundane and listen to your soul!
Living your best life doesn’t necessarily mean going bungee jumping or anything else crazy! It ultimately means you’re living in joy and awareness. It’s important to listen to what your soul is whispering to you, and acting on it. It’s about getting to a place where you realize that your choices today are creating your life story. What do you want your story to be?
3 Easy ways to switch gears from autopilot to awareness:
1. Stillness & Space
It’s difficult to be aware of your surroundings and hear your soul speaking when you’re going non-stop. I know we live in an era of feeling the need to do it all, but it’s important to say no sometimes. Make time every day for inward connection, whether that’s in meditation, prayer, or just reflecting in a quiet space. It’s during this time that you’ll get in tune with your desires and dreams. This is the time when those “a-ha” moments will come to you.
You don’t need to sign the kids up for one more activity, you don’t need to stay late at work every day, or go out every night. Enjoy the people around you, that’s generally the biggest regret people have at the end of their journey-not enough time spent with loved ones. When you’re crazy busy it’s easy to just be stuck going through the motions of life, not finding any true fulfillment. Let yourself breathe and enjoy the simplicity of being alive. Being in nature is a great way to start noticing and appreciating life. During these times, let the opinions of others, and negativity fall to the wayside. Let your desires and dreams surface in your mind.
2. Experiences
Ok, so I just said it’s ok to say no to doing too much, and now I’m telling you to get out there and experience the fullness of life! So which is it? What I mean here, is to choose an experience over things. Choose to play with your kid for an hour rather than staring at your phone or the tv. Take a trip to a beach instead of accumulating more stuff.
It’s about balance really, leading you to choose adventures and experiences more regularly. Choosing to experience life doesn’t mean to overbook your schedule in meaningless ways, and activities. It’s about choosing what will add meaning and joy to your life, not just for today, but at the end of your journey when you reflect back. When you choose to really experience life as it comes, you begin to live in awareness. You’ll force yourself to turn that autopilot off when you’re taking twists and turns for new adventures.
3. Make a move
Even though it may seem like you never have time for anything, you do! I’ve often felt like I don’t have time to work on things that are “important” to me. When the thing becomes important enough though, I always end up finding the time. Sometimes it takes getting to an extreme place that you finally realize you need to create that time for yourself. Don’t wait until you’re on the brink of a breakdown to finally prioritize yourself. All it takes is you making a move, once you decide to do something, space is created. Listen to your intuition.
Remember that every day you get the choice to choose your path, don’t sell yourself short. Sit down and make a list of what you can start doing daily to work towards your goals in life. Those dreams don’t need to stay in your mind. The whispers of your soul don’t need to remain unheard. Take a step, follow these callings, and start living with intention and awareness!
So, are you going to stay stuck on autopilot, or take a turn for a life-changing adventure? Let’s go live!
