We usually don't like to think about this, and yet we are acting on autopilot more often than we would like to acknowledge.
But this is actually not as bad as we judge it.
Acting on autopilot is one of the strategies the brain uses for saving energy, mental capacity, and for optimizing recurring processes.
Without at least a little bit of autopilot every day, we would not be able to "function" and our brain would be constantly in information overload, busy with processing tons of information, again and again, every time like the very first time.
Cooking, driving a car, walking, brushing your teeth, closing your house door when you go out...
Do you really remember every tiny step of it, every single day?
Of course, you don't.
The matter is different when we are performing actions that should not be repetitive and when we are learning something.
When openness, curiosity, and flexibility are needed. Autopilot is a poor choice, there.
The secret superpower? Being able to turn off the autopilot when you need to, and to recognize when it is important to do so. It's a skill worth honing.
Coaching question of the day:
"When should you turn off your autopilot?"
But this is actually not as bad as we judge it.
Acting on autopilot is one of the strategies the brain uses for saving energy, mental capacity, and for optimizing recurring processes.
Without at least a little bit of autopilot every day, we would not be able to "function" and our brain would be constantly in information overload, busy with processing tons of information, again and again, every time like the very first time.
[Just like every other switch,
your autopilot can be turned on and off]
Cooking, driving a car, walking, brushing your teeth, closing your house door when you go out...
Do you really remember every tiny step of it, every single day?
Of course, you don't.
The matter is different when we are performing actions that should not be repetitive and when we are learning something.
When openness, curiosity, and flexibility are needed. Autopilot is a poor choice, there.
The secret superpower? Being able to turn off the autopilot when you need to, and to recognize when it is important to do so. It's a skill worth honing.
Coaching question of the day:
"When should you turn off your autopilot?"
Tags: Coaching question, Self-coaching, Self-awareness, Self-reflection, Mindfulness, Being on autopilot, Emotional intelligence
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