Hello [Name],
Today is the final email in the Writing for Being newsletter series, but your opportunity to write the life you want is only just beginning. Make sure to read this entire email for a special announcement about enrollment for Writing for Being Cohort 2, which will be going on sale in less than two days!
Today’s question is: Are you stuck on autopilot?
Are you stuck on autopilot?
Many of us get caught up in action, doing things on autopilot. Autopilot is when we do things without really thinking about them. We can be on autopilot at work, with our partners, friends, even our kids. A sign that we’re living on autopilot is feeling stuck, unfulfilled, lost, or unhappy.
We continue to say yes to demands and requests that gradually erode our boundaries, motivation, patience, and our energy. Why? Because it happens gradually, email by email, ask by ask. It adds up until you find yourself feeling trapped in a life where you’re constantly behind, exhausted, or disconnected. Maybe you realize you want something different, that something needs to change, or that your situation is unworkable. How do you make that change? How do you find something that works for you?
Disengage Autopilot
In Writing for Being, I methodically break down various ways to turn off your autopilot. One of those ways is by setting conscious intentions by aligning your actions with your values. As I’ve often said, the Bullet Journal Method is a mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system. It helps you organize what you’re doing, but more importantly, it helps you clarify why you're doing what you're doing.
As we mentioned last week, intentions are just one of the tools we will explore in Writing for Being. We will also explore strategies, frameworks, and rituals that will keep us from living our life on autopilot. All of these tools come together in a system that will empower you to make intentional choices for the rest of your life.
Challenges of Being on Autopilot
Not addressing the autopilot mindset can lead to:
- Lack of Direction: Feeling aimless without a clear sense of purpose.
- Discouragement: Experiencing dissatisfaction when your actions don’t align with your true desires.
- Stagnation: Struggling to make meaningful progress in life or not achieving your goals.
Choose Your Own Heading
On the other hand, addressing these challenges can provide the following benefits:
- Self-Awareness: Understand what you truly want, beyond external expectations.
- Empowerment: Gain control over your life by aligning your actions with your values.
- Fulfillment: Achieve a sense of satisfaction by living intentionally.
In Writing for Being, we will explore how to identify and embody your values, helping you transition from a life on autopilot to a life of intentionality. We'll introduce tangible exercises and tools to help you clarify the story you want to live, who you want to be in that story, and how you can create the possibility for living that story.
Take Action
Have you ever had goals or ideas that you wanted but never materialized? Big dreams that you say you want, but freeze on making them a reality?
Someday, you say, then we'll get to it. Maybe after I learn all there is to know about boat maintenance, then I'll sail around the world. And yet, something is always in the way between you and your goals.
In Writing for Being, we will unlock that block in your mindset and how you view these goals. We'll introduce a specific framework to help demystify them and make them feel possible for you to take action today.
