Breaking Free from Living on Autopilot

"I realized I had been navigating life on autopilot... Grief has this way of weighing down every aspect of existence." - Shonda Ramsey, Authentically Anchored

I carry a lot of grief, even though I try not to, it sometimes overtakes my mind, body, and soul. I've hidden within the walls of my heart the shame that comes from the grief I carry. I often shut out other people as I try to figure it all out on my own. Perhaps that's the Gen X in me, surviving on instinct, doing it alone, never allowing anyone else in to help me. 

On those heavy grief days, as I call them, I tend to run on autopilot. I go through the motions, but at the end of the day I cannot for the life of me, remember what it was that I actually did do. Some call that trauma brain, I really don't know if that is the technical term for it, but I do know that it can be debilitating...if I allow it to be.

Today is one of those days, where running on autopilot seems like a better choice than facing my grief head on. I look to my left at my planner that I still haven't written this weeks tasks in. On Friday, I left my office in a state of turmoil, there are crumbs to my right, tea stains next to the crumbs, and a million pens and highlighters scattered all over the desk. My inbox is flooded with papers that need to be dealt with and have sat there for months now because my schedule hasn't allowed time for me to do the admin tasks each week like I used to.

I tell you all of this so that you can get a clear understanding of what living on autopilot begins to look like. Maybe by hearing how I am recognizing my own bad habits and changing the way I approach things, you'll be able to find the strength to do the same. 

I remind myself that this isn't a God thing, this is a me thing. I have the power to choose what I will do each and every day. Yes, I do pray for strength, wisdom, and guidance, I do read my Bible every morning, and I do call upon God an awful lot. But, friend, all of that is moot if I do not take action. 

Micah 6:8 (NIV) says this: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Living on autopilot means there is no acting justly, there's just going through the motions. How can I say I am walking humbly with my God, if I'm merely surviving each day, the same as the last, without inviting Him in with me? 

God doesn't want us to live on autopilot, we will miss all the goodness He has before us. To help you break free from living on autopilot, I want to share with you a few things I do when I start noticing evidence of autopilot happening in my life.

1. Take a long hot shower with worship music on, songs you know and can sing to, and praise while showering.
2. Put on an outfit that makes you feel good about yourself.
3. Read your Bible, do a devotion, sit in prayer, whatever you like to do to spend time with God.
4. Eat breakfast, do not skip it, and make it a healthy and hearty breakfast.
5. Clean up the dishes and kitchen after eating, wipe down every surface, because a clean kitchen instantly boosts your mood. Take out the trash right then and there if it's full. 
6. Pull out your planner or a task pad, and make a list of things you'd like to accomplish this week.
7. Pick one item to work on and set a timer for fifteen minutes and focus only on that task. Repeat as you have the energy and mindset to do this. Even if you cannot cross it off today, it's ok, you'll have accomplished progress in small bursts.
8. Show up for yourself every single day in a way that makes you want to take action towards fulfilling your dreams.
9. If all you could do were steps 1-3, give yourself grace, and keep trying every day.

Always remember this verse - 

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Taking action with you, Shonda Ramsey