From Autopilot to Mindfulness: The Challenge of Everyday Life

Autopilot or Mindfulness

Modern life is filled with many distractions and stimuli, including phone notifications, emails, social media, and people demanding our attention. In addition, the demands of everyday life and constant social and professional obligations push our pace up to high speeds, making it difficult to concentrate and focus on what we are doing.

Thus, we enter a state of automaticity by performing the activities with which we are familiar without concentration and thought. This means we perform our tasks mechanically without being aware of our body or surroundings. In other words, we enter “autopilot”.
However, in this automatic mode, we lose touch with our body and the present moment. This lack of awareness can significantly impact our emotional and mental well-being as it prevents us from fully experiencing and enjoying our experiences and life. 

The Autopilot

Have you ever been on your way to work or some other routine route and not remembered the details of the journey? That’s the autopilot. When we operate mechanically, the mind finds space and starts to wander to other times. As a result, thoughts become chaotic, we lose touch with the present, and consequently, we cease to be aware of our feelings and needs. This leads to some of the biggest problems of our time, such as anxiety, loss of concentration, increased irritability and reduced levels of happiness. The more we are left on autopilot, the more likely these adverse effects will occur and affect our daily lives.

“Mindfulness is the antidote to autopilot, a state of full presence, awareness of thoughts, feelings and environment without judgment or distraction.”

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to observe our experience in the present without judgment. By practising mindfulness, we can learn to observe our thoughts, feelings and environment non-judgmentally, thus gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. It is a state of mind that allows us to remain calm and focused and make conscious decisions. Mindfulness helps us to reduce stress, increase our resilience and improve our overall well-being. It is a lifelong practice that leads to inner peace, happiness and fulfilment.

“Cultivating mindfulness can be approached traditionally through meditation or informally by incorporating it into daily routines.”

Cultivating Mindfulness

The cultivation of mindfulness can be approached by both formal and informal methods. Formal practice methods include mindfulness meditations, body scans, and yoga and tai chi exercises. Regular practice can gradually enhance mindfulness, even for a few minutes daily.
On the other hand, informal methods involve incorporating mindfulness into daily routines and, for example, consciously directing attention to sensations, sounds, and the environment during routine activities such as eating, walking, writing, or moving.
Whether through traditional techniques or by incorporating mindfulness into daily life, the key lies in consistent practice and a deliberate commitment to staying in the present. This cultivates a heightened state of awareness and well-being, which leads to a meaningful and enjoyable life.
Living mindfully is the key to a fulfilling and purposeful life. By being present in each moment, we can enhance our relationship with the present and contribute to our overall well-being. The choice between mindful living and automaticity is straightforward. Mindfulness paves the way for a more harmonious and balanced life. By being aware of our surroundings and thoughts, we can live more clearly and cultivate a deeper sense of life’s purpose.

Picture of Sofia Motsia

Sofia Motsia

MA Creative Writing, BA Theatre studies

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
WhatsApp

Subscribe to our newsletter