Do you live your life on auto-pilot??
By Oneironaut
@_sketch_ (5742)
United States
July 1, 2011 2:52pm CST
I found an interesting article today talking about how we are on "auto-pilot" half of the time. I think that there is a lot of truth in this. It is evident. People are almost always regretting the past or worrying about the future, never paying much attention the now, until one day we look up and think, "Where did the time go? Where did my life go?" We realize that we weren't really living at all.
Most everyone has heard the phrase, "Stop and smell the roses.", yet it seems few truly do. We start hating daily activities. We get bored and we wish to escape the journey and skip right to the destination.
The movie "Click" staring Adam Sandler is a perfect example of this. We are in control of our life and we can choose to go on auto-pilot, but there is no way to go back and change it if we later change our mind.
So what do you want to do? Do you want to hurry and reach your destination as quick as you can; or do you want to cherish every moment, knowing that you can never gain that moment back?
Here is the article if you are interested:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-brain-work/201011/new-study-shows-humans-are-auto-pilot-nearly-half-the-time
8 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
4 Jul 11
That is so true. Most of us are guilty of spending our days just trying to get things done in order to get ahead. Most go through the same routine every day of the week. Get up, have breakfast, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, then go to bed and do it all again the next day. 
This is why I chose to leave the rat race of working a job 5 years ago. Is still am guilty of getting caught up in my own daily routines every now and then, but the rut is not as deep as it was before I became self employed. Being your own boss means that you can add some flexibility into your daily routine which allows time to reflect on the day and enjoy life a bit more. 
This is why I chose to leave the rat race of working a job 5 years ago. Is still am guilty of getting caught up in my own daily routines every now and then, but the rut is not as deep as it was before I became self employed. Being your own boss means that you can add some flexibility into your daily routine which allows time to reflect on the day and enjoy life a bit more. @_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
4 Jul 11
Flexibility in our routine is certainly a good thing, but even when we do have to do the same thing over and over, it will benefit us greatly if while we are doing those things, we pay attention to and allow ourselves to appreciate these things which we usually just look at as boring and mundane. If we aren't so focused on wishing we were doing something different, then the task really wouldn't be as bad.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
4 Jul 11
Yeah, we need to take in our surroundings more and enjoy each task that we are doing. The simple things, like taking time to watch birds flying from tree to tree or marvelling at the shape of flowers in the garden while walking around. All those magical things in nature which we take for granted and often ignore in our daily lives can bring so much wonder and joy into our lives.
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Jul 11
We only go through this life ONCE. And good there for that I can do while I am here I am happy to do. I think this auto pilot thing you mention is sort like being in denial. We need to live each day as bestwe can. Alot of people today live in a tight routine and a fast paced life style. They seem to like it. Let them. To each his own.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
I think that they only seem to like the fast-paced lifestyle because it is all they know. Many people define the value of their lives on how much they have "accomplished", but it is always external, physical things like work, school, chores, errands, etc. How many people sit at home and do nothing but read, meditate, etc. and at the end of the day think to themselves, "Wow, what a productive day I've had."?? I would guess not many.
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jul 11
@Scarface2010--In the ideal world coming up with ideas and way to make big money would be great, BUT, in the real world that takes ALOT of time. Only so much time in a day and so then you have the being stuck in a rut and running yourself crazy. Not nearly as easy as it sounds.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
2 Jul 11
During my schooldays there was a poem i had learnt.I don`t recall the poet, probably it was William Wordsworth, but the words went like this " What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare, no time to stand below the boughs and stare as long as sheep and cows....." and so on. Much later in life when everything was moving at a dizzying pace i happened to work in one of the Gulf countries wher for the first time in my life i found that i had time for myself, to do things that i wanted to do which i could not do for a very long time. It was then that i recalled the words of this poem and realised how much i had missed in my life and what i had missed. We go through our lives chasing our dreams and goals without realizing how the time has passed and when we do it is too late and then we are filled with deep regrets.Then we try to realize our unfulfilled desires and dreams through our children which many times does not work out and we get frustrated.My life at present is going quite smoothly though my dream of becoming wealthy is not yet fulfilled.Yes, i am living a regulated life but there is no monotony and i am able to" stand and stare" and live life at my own pace. It is good to pursue goals but we should give ourselves time to unwind sometimes otherwise there is a danger of losing our health and then losing our focus on our goals and making a mess of our lives.Time, once gone will never come back.I have many pleasant memories of my past and a satisfaction that i could do what i wanted before it was too late.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
Sounds like a wonderful poem. We can sure learn a lot from art. It's sad that schools tend to focus so much more on science, math, etc. and are constantly cutting different art programs as if they are worth any less to mankind. That is great that you did take your life into your own hands and didn't let it pass you by.
@Princelierocks (817)
• India
2 Jul 11
Yes what you said is exactly the right thing which is happen today in everyone's life. No matter how vigilant we want to be we always worry about the past keep reflecting on it and then regret this not only hampers the current situation of life but is also a big threat to our own future. Why to ruin the future with the past when it has nothing to do with it, What is gone is gone let us now enjoy each and every moment of our life. God created us to be happy but not sad. Our day to day activities are almost on autopilot with depression and worrying life we want to have things quickly and quick destinations and results, Which is not possible, So concluding on the topic lets not think too much about what has happened let us remain alert in every moment and let not worry have no control over us. All the best for all of us in life.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
Exactly, what's gone is gone like you said. Sometimes it seems that people even continue to keep doing things which they know do not make them happy just because that is what they have done or have wanted in the past. For example, we may keep dressing a certain way in order to fit into a clique when in fact we may not really fit there anymore; or we may remain married because we at once loved them or we feel like it would make us a bad person or something. It's very interesting how much focus is on the past.
@naija4real (1291)
•
2 Jul 11
I am the kind of person that take life calmly. I do not believe in rushing up things. I do not believe in comparing myself with others. I believe in myself and I take things as they come.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
That is great to hear. When you live calmly like that and know how to have patience, it seems to me that we are able to get a lot more done, probably because we aren't so stressed all the time.
@heaven921 (68)
• Denmark
2 Jul 11
First of all thanks for posting these words as it's gives me an inspiration. I always feel like that, seems that my life is so predictable and get bored easily and so eager to shift to another journey and see what's up ahead. Until I read this and make me realize how I am missing almost half of my life. You're right in everything sketch. Coz we might not be here tomorrow we should make the most of our lives today. Pay attention to the small things and appreciate every moment we still have today. It enlightens me. Thanks :)
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
Well I'm glad that you have been inspired by this. I guess that it what mylot is for, eh? :) You are right that the small things are very important. They actually seem to make the biggest impact on people's lives.
Though I really doubt that trying to get every last dollar is the way to inner peace as it is an entirely external factor. I really doubt that Scarface actually had any sort of peace in or out.
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Jul 11
We only go through this life ONCE. And good there for that I can do while I am here I am happy to do. I think this auto pilot thing you mention is sort like being in denial. We need to live each day as bestwe can. Alot of people today live in a tight routine and a fast paced life style. They seem to like it. Let them. To each his own.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Jul 11
I say I want to stop and enjoy every single good moment in my life however what I do is probably something different. I don't get bored easily but I do want to get out of this financial situation so I do sometimes wish or say I can't wait until this is over and we are past this time. Later on in life I might regret wishing the time away, especially with my children...
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
2 Jul 11
Yes, the financial situation is a common one. It's crazy how much focus we put on money since it doesn't have any actual value at all. It's just as pretend as Monopoly game money, except this game we call society.
