Conscious Living—a mindful approach to tuning into your life
I was having a session with a client last week and we were talking about how we can lack intentionality with everything we do—we’re on autopilot. We wake up, talk to the people, do the things, go to the places, check all the boxes and at the end of the day, end up with a string of unconscious decisions that lead us into habits.
The best part of being alive is we CAN make it into a conscious decision. We have the capacity to control the narrative to the best of OUR ability. Yes—we don’t get a choice in everything that happens to us, the good, bad and unpredictable. But we do get to consciously choose our response in every situation.
The question is: are you going to remain on autopilot? Or start being the author of your own story again by tuning into conscious living?
Why Autopilot Happens
The brain likes to conserve energy as much as possible, so it will efficiently manage repetitive tasks, which is a good thing—until it’s not!
Although our brains are doing us a favor in running things behind the scenes, it can get in the way of us being rooted in reality! This can impact our relationships or self-talk, leading to a loss of connection around us.
We have to stop and ask:
Why am I doing this?
Does this align with my values?
Who is in the drivers seat?
On Being Intentional
Have you noticed where autopilot shows up in your life?
Here are a few ways to begin the practice being intentional and leading with conscious practice:
Set micro-intentions—How do I want to show up today? Is there an area I can start being more intentional in?
Notice your defaults—Pay attention to your daily repetitive tasks and try to bring more presence into the moment. Take a deep breath, be intentional with your time and how your spending it.
Interrupt the pattern—If you respond in a certain way, or notice repetitive self-talk, try to give a different response, or even pause before you respond and ask “do I really want to/not want to do this?” Small, daily pauses can bring about BIG change.
Check in daily— In a journal, in your thoughts, to your partner or friend ask: did I align in my values today? What could I change or adjust?
What’s in it for me?
-You feel more aligned
-Your relationships are more intentional
-Your confidence grows stronger
-Your sense of self grows
-Your work feels purposeful
Life happens—but you can change your response! What’s your first step in becoming more aligned, living consciously + interrupting your autopilot?
