In our fast-paced world, we're always looking for ways to save time and conserve energy by automating and delegating tasks.
Automation is one of the brain's superpowers. It’s crucial for improving the quality of our lives. By running tasks on autopilot—like brushing our teeth, getting dressed, or driving—we can conserve our focus, attention, and creativity for the tasks, projects, and activities we truly want to be present for.
However, the danger of automation is that it can keep us detached and unaware of our actions, closing the dialogue between what we're doing and our assessment of it. When we're on autopilot, we're not interacting with ourselves. It also deprives us of the biggest power we have - the power to make a choice.
AUTOMATION - Reality Check
Due to our brain's ancestral setup, which prioritizes minimal effort and energy conservation, our default is to automate not just small habits (good or bad) but also the essential components that define us.
Unless we consciously work to reprogram our default settings, we also automate our thoughts and the beliefs we form as we navigate the world.
By the time we're adults, anywhere between 45-90% of our behaviors are influenced by unconscious habits.
This means that almost half of our existence is run on autopilot.
Any reactions, responses, and behaviors we've convinced ourselves are "out of our control" are simply deeply ingrained unconscious automated patterns. When we get angry, upset, jealous, or resentful, it means we've built an unconscious automatic habit that brings about these thoughts and emotions.
AUTOMATION vs. SELF-CREATION
The antidote to automation is self-creation.
If automation is about checking out and disengaging, self-creation is about making intentional choices and staying fully present and engaged with our experiences.
Self-creation is the act of viewing yourself and your life as a masterpiece.
It's about maintaining an open dialogue within yourself and aligning your values and priorities with your goals and desires. When you start creating yourself, you make choices about who you want to be, from your inner dialogue to your interactions with the outside world, and the kind of life you want to live.
Take any habit, reaction, or behavior that's working against you. No matter where you are in relation to this pattern today, you can begin to crack the shell of that stagnant habit and start engaging with it from a fresh perspective—a place of playfulness, curiosity, and wonder.
Creating Change with Self-Check-Ins
We use check-ins in many different areas where we want to ensure the quality of the results we get - employee reviews, parent-teacher conferences, health check-ups, etc.
A simple way to enter self-creation mode is to have regular personal check-ins.
This simple practice helps us create a built-in structure in our lives to ensure that we’re staying in touch with ourselves, our values and desires, and that we’re making intentional choices of how we want our life to be.
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IN PRACTICE
Today I’m sharing with you a simple check-in practice for you to try out. Create a time and space for your check-in and make it a priority.
You can do it as often as you'd like—whether at the end of the day, week, or as a New Year's reflection. It has the power to change how you see yourself and what you see as possible.
Keep it simple and doable to make it...ironically, an automated habit. Journal on the following:
What is going well? - Acknowledge and feel deep gratitude for as much as you can possibly list.
What do I want to be different? - If things were the way I wanted what would it look like.
What are the qualities and values I want to be living out? - How does your current experience match/not match your values and priorities.
What if…..? - Open up to creativity and possibility as you list as many positive “what if” questions as you can around the area where you’re looking to create change.
Pick a question from that lights you up and make a list with as many possible answers as you can.
Who could I reach out to/ask for support about this? - Check if you are resisting connection and asking for support.
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Quick Story Time
When I was a kid, I remember realizing I could brush my teeth without thinking about it—it was like magic! But then it hit me: "Wait, if I’m not paying attention, how do I know if I’m doing it right?"
That thought stuck with me, and I became fascinated by the dance between awareness and autopilot. In that moment, I made a quiet promise to myself to stay aware of what I’m doing, even when it’s automatic.
Recently, I realized this lesson has been a guiding light for me, shaping how I see the world and navigate through it. It's become a lens through which I view my world.
It doesn't mean I'm always perfect or that I've reached a zen guru level of awareness.
I've simply made it a priority to the best of my ability.
Often, when I look back, I see how this attention to awareness has shaped my relationship with myself and everything I've wanted to create.
This is why I'm so passionate about supporting people in intentionally creating their lives and careers.
Life is too beautiful and rich to go through it unaware of almost half of our experiences.
Your mind, soul, and dreams are too precious to be left to chance and set on default.
Your creativity is your superpower to start living life on your own terms.
💌 Stani
P.S. I'm opening up 3 (three) spots in March for my Complimentary Discovery Sessions - book yours HERE !
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