The other day I was at the Supermarket’s checkout line, waiting for my turn to put my groceries on, then my turn finally arrives, I began to put the groceries and greeted the cashier with a “Hi, How are you?” and a big smile — but wait she must be in trance or something! She not have listened to me because she said “Hi, How are you?” and smiled back at me. Hmm — weird — not really! I realized she is in Autopilot Mode (APM)! (Repetitive task and automatic thinking) Just like the rest of us is in APM these days, right? Why? Too stress out and tired to answer even simple questions? We are just thinking on what we are going to do later, submerged into our own thoughts, worrying about everything. We don’t have clear minds. We just go through life in Autopilot Mode. Wake up in the morning to do the exactly same routine each and every day. We eat the same things because we already know we like it, (Believe me, I know!!). But even if you love your life the way it is and the things you do, you need to change things a little every day to get off the routine train that picks you up when you wake up each day.
Lifestyle and a daily routine do affects your life and makes you be in Autopilot Mode. You can start to break “the” habits by making small changes in your daily routine to boost your confidence towards taking bigger steps. Things like taking a new route to go to work, eating a different kind of cereal in the morning, giving your kids a big hug instead of just wave bye bye at the bus stop, uh-oh, your kids are teenagers, got it, they don’t like public hugs!, give them a hi-five or whatever crazy gesture you want, just make it different. Or how about, calling or texting your significant other in the middle of the day and telling them a joke!
Isn’t it funny though, when two people ask “how are you?” and they both respond at the same time “Good”! “Good!” And keep on walking. We should just answer honestly when they ask us how we are doing. Maybe you are wonderful or maybe not so much, it’s OK not to feel good sometimes, we are only humans! And on those days is when we need the most to make things just a little different to feel alive again. I want you to have a better life, a meaningful one, a life filled with passion for the thing you love to do, even during those not so wonderful moments. No more Autopilot Mode in your life. There are too many delicious fruits out there, to be eating the same ones every day. Think of it this way, maybe you think you are an apple, crisp, and sweet, sometimes tart; then, one day you try a pear, juicy, fragrant, and realize you are more like a pear. After some time you come across an orange, bright, cheerful, now you are in some serious business trying to figure out who you are, and that is the good part about trying new things every day, at the end you get to know yourself a little better! The bottom line is you can’t do that in Autopilot Mode. So! Sing new songs, eat healthy new meals, and wear new colors. Pick a new destination for you and your family’s next adventure, and, Be free!
