Tag Archives: control

Being on autopilot can be useful in many situations

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Being on autopilot can be useful in many situations. On other occasions, it is necessary to grab the wheel of your life and do your own driving.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Orkun Asap

What are your thoughts and feelings regarding self-driving cars?

In the last few years, a number of our friends have purchased electric vehicles.

With longer driving ranges, faster and more convenient charging options, and other cool and useful features, more and more folks are making the switch.

Each of these individuals is more than happy to drive when we get together to show off a bit of their new tech.  Among the latest functionalities to get from point A to point B is a hands and foot free option that does all the work for you.

Fortunately, these autonomous driving segments still requires a level of hands-on attention where only an actual person will do.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your world have you turned the driving over to someone or something else?

Where is the timing right to grab back the wheel and take greater control of where things are headed?

 

“Things that aren’t your fault can still be your responsibility.”

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“Things that aren’t your fault can still be your responsibility.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Markus Winkler

When we examine our world closely, it’s amazing to see just how many aspects of our lives are not within our control.

It can often feel unfair when we experience bad breaks in either personal or professional matters.

At such times many of us default to pointing the blame for how things go down elsewhere.

Although many of these messy situations may be caused by others, we often find ourselves with mops and brooms, cleaning up after them.

How well do you manage and navigate such events?

EXERCISE:

Where and how do you embrace your responsibility for things that aren’t your fault?

How could taking this stance more often empower you to live with greater dignity and self-respect?

Sometimes it feels good to be a passenger and go where life takes you.

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Sometimes it feels good to be a passenger and go where life takes you.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Erik Odiin

When you take trips in your car, who drives? What percentage of the time are you at the wheel versus riding shotgun or even in the back seat?

I have a strong preference to be in control, and only reluctantly become a passenger when I’m tired and the risk of me driving affects the safety of those with me.

Given this pattern, today’s quote seemed worth a closer look, and I became curious about what I might be missing with my hands always in the “two and ten” positions.

EXERCISE:

Choose an entire day in which you let others and life itself take the wheel.

How might you make this a regular practice to see what surprises life may offer around the next corner?

“Turn in the direction of the skid.”

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“Turn in the direction of the skid.”

—Driving School adage

Image from Unsplash by Meghan Schiereck

Having lived in Michigan over half my life, I’ve experienced my share of icy roads! Before front or four-wheel drive, traction control, and the latest in snow tire technology, today’s quote was the best advice and coaching to avoid or minimize accidents.

How do you try to control the many aspects of your life? How fast are you going these days? How many icy patches are you experiencing on your personal and professional roads through life?

It turns out the more we slam on the brakes and over-steer, the worse things become.

EXERCISE:

Where is it appropriate for you to fully embrace an icy patch or two in your world? How can you calmly turn into these skids to get back on the road to a better life?

“Don’t try to teach a whole course in one lesson.”

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“Don’t try to teach a whole course in one lesson.”

—Kathryn Murray, Ballroom Dancer

Photo from Flickr by Shaver Ross

Photo from Flickr by Shaver Ross

Two months into the new year and already I see a large number of people frustrated, slowed down, or completely stopped in the pursuit of their personal and/or professional goals.

One of the most common reasons for setbacks is the desire and attempt to do too much too quickly, which results in being overwhelmed, losing focus, and of course, a lack of the anticipated results.

It is appropriate, in such situations, to regroup and establish a new course of action with far fewer steps and far more finite and reasonable expectations.

EXERCISE:

Select one – and only one – important professional or personal project that is not going as you desire where you have tried to do too much too quickly.

Break this project into smaller, more digestible nuggets and spread them out over a longer time frame, to achieve the results you wanted the first time.