#288 Operating One's Life Consciously - Living Intentionally

     Once we learn a bit about mindfulness practice, we forever have the choice of either living mindfully or on autopilot. It's a bit like discovering that the camera you had assumed was "fully automatic," you now realize is fully manually adjustable (ISO, shutter speeds, lens openings etc). Instead of a few pre-programmed responses which are never really right, you are now free to custom select the settings (response) most appropriate to any given situation.
     There's a natural human tendency to essentially let go of the steering wheel of life - abdicate responsibility for the direction of one's life. This can last seconds, minutes, hours, a weekend, or can completely take over some people's lives. It can happen with or without addictive substances. There are physically healthy, intelligent people who squander their entire adult lives sitting in their room browsing the web, "living" on disability insurance - in total executive function failure.
     To be 100% alive, don't we have to be as continuously consciously aware as possible of what's happening in and around us? Don't we want to actively override our ancient automatic reflexes to engage fully with life as evolved human beings? Do race car drivers or jet fighter pilots nap at the controls? Do they put on cruise-control, take their hands off the steering wheel, and sort of hope things work out?

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