HOW TO LET GO OF AUTOPILOT AND BE PRESENT HERE AND NOW
The average persons mind is on autopilot 47% of the time. Research has shown that while we are physically present our mind is wandering around, dwelling in the past and the future and we’re reacting and doing things on autopilot. We are spending nearly half of our life not being fully present in the now, not fully experiencing and appreciating the present moment.
Let me give an example: You had a long day at the office and you walk home through a beautiful park. The weather is lovely, the sun is shinning, the birds are singing. When you enter the park you are aware of the beauty around you and hear the birds singing. You pass by a musician playing on the guitar. The music moves you, but while listening you suddenly remember an argument you had this morning with your boss. It was about whether or not you were allowed to listen to music at the office. In a split second you have forgotten where you are, your brain is running at a 100 kilometers per hour and you a replaying the argument over and over in your head. You recall previous negative experiences you’ve had with other bosses and coworkers and now you’re really getting worked up. You actually feel angry now. You don’t even notice the way the sunlight is shimmering on the tree leaves or smell the fresh grass you’re walking on. You have become oblivious to your surroundings and by the time you’ve left the park you are exhausted, frustrated and depressed about your life.
The walk through the park did not replenish you or balance your mind. You were on autopilot letting your negative thoughts take over, which is a very common experience that every single one of us experience to varying degrees. When we are on autopilot we generally worry about the future, or dwell on the past replaying past experiences in our minds. It is in these moments we can use our awareness to bring us back to ourselves and out of autopilot. By observing our thoughts we become aware of the patterns and we go from being involved to becoming the observer. It is only when we step back and observe our habitual mental and emotional patterns, that we are able to break them and built new healthier ones. When we observe our mind without judgement and without trying to control it our negative thought patterns often loose their strength and slowly start to fade away. As they become less obsessive and overwhelming we are able to return to the present moment, to our breath and our surroundings. And it is in these moments that we are able to fully restore and renew our body and mind.
Doing and being - A bird needs two wings to fly
Throughout the day our Mind is busy with discussing, editing, planning and problem solving. Mentally (and often also physically) we are active most of the time. It is important for everyday functioning that we have and can use these cognitive functions. The thing is that we have a tendency to over-use them and we forget to give our brain the break, the regenerating rest that it needs for optimal function. With all that mental activity we rarely experience peace of Mind.
It is important to remember: for optimal regeneration and functioning our brain needs to downshift from doing mode to being mode:
This happens by slowing down, doing one thing at a time, being fully aware of the basics of being alive: the breath, the body, emotions you may encounter, the sunlight, sounds, etc.
This is very different from normal cognitive activity. We downshift to a more sensory based open aware presence where our mind is more receptive and less active. In this open flowing and receptive state of aware presence our brain and body can more easily regenerate, heal and release tensions and pain. This does not mean that being active is wrong. There is just less stress and tension in our activities when they emerge from an inner dimension of calm and awake presence.
Look at a bird flying effortlessly across the infinite blue sky. Doing and being are very much like the two wings of a bird. Trying to fly only with one wing would be very difficult, against our true nature and bound to fail. Integrating the practice of mindful aware presence in our daily life makes us travel more effortlessly and peacefully, staying balanced on our journey through life.
Start your daily journey into being by practicing three important things:
- Slow down your tempo whenever you can
- Do one thing at a time and focus on it
- Be aware of your breath as often as possible