Ah, autopilot: the romance, the freedom, the smooth ride of pre-programming the plane to get to your destination. No thinking, no stress, just simplicity and automatic steering. Bliss…
Autopilot is a pretty cool invention. It provides periods of rest for the pilot, aids the pilot when visibility is low and generally gets you where you’re going safely. The thing is, autopilot is an aide for the pilot, it is not a replacement for the pilot.
Autopilot does not perform the takeoff. It is the pilot who gets that plane going. It is the pilot that will remain aware of the weather and other factors that might require them to manually take over the flying of the plane. It is the pilot who will check to see if the plane is on course. It is the pilot who lands the plane, even though the autopilot is capable of doing so.
I’ve talked to people lately who are intentional about where they are going in life; people who have worked through stuff, people who adjust their own responses. What I have noticed is that they don’t allow autopilot to run their lives without question.
They made a decision about where they want to go in life and set off in that direction. They remain aware of how they respond whether things are going smoothly or the environment gets a little stormy and check in regularly to see whether they are still on course for their destination.
Autopilot is amazing; but, autopilot is amazing within certain parameters. Outside of those parameters, it is wise to turn autopilot off and to navigate manually.
Each of us have areas that we run on autopilot. We’ve been brought up a particular way and that way seems normal to us.
When I went flatting, I discovered that my flatmates had been brought up differently than me. We had wonderful late night conversations about indoctrination and the correct way to dry laundry.
When we are exposed to different ways of doing things, we are confronted with the reality that things can be done differently. Before I went flatting, there were lots of things that I assumed were only done one way. I quickly learnt that I was wrong.
For someone who tries to fly a plane with no training, autopilot might be their saving grace. But how much better is it to get some basic instruction on how to actually arrive at the destination.
A skilled pilot will observe the plane, the route and the flying conditions and make adjustments where necessary.
Start with figuring out where you’re going. Planes have stopovers, so if you are at a destination where you don’t want to be, you are not stuck there. Move on. If you don’t enter a destination or a route into the programme, you’re not going to be able to rely on the navigation system. You need to decide where you’re going.
Take notice – where does your current autopilot take you? Are you heading up the corporate ladder because that is the expectation of your family? Do you find yourself trying to escape your circumstances because they’re painful? Are you trying to figure out what attracts you? Do you find yourself going from relationship to relationship hoping that someone will fill the void?
Most times a skilled pilot will turn off autopilot and land the plane; but if they don’t, the plane will eventually land itself. Have you thought about where your autopilot is taking you? Is that where you want to end up?
What are the conditions like?
If a pilot observes a storm brewing they can change the route to avoid dangerous weather systems. They will be gathering information, watching the monitors and making an intentional decision whether to continue through or to go around. This is about safety of the passengers, safety of the crew and to preserve the plane in a good condition for the next flight.
When we’re on cruise mode we blindly careen into situations without the necessary information to navigate well. When we are relying heavily on autopilot without remaining aware of our environment, we can unexpectedly end up in a wreck.
If you cruise through life without noticing how you respond, autopilot will keep suggesting the maneuvers that you learnt growing up. If you’re trying to grow and change, you need to enter new information into the programme or turn autopilot off and manually navigate the tricky patch.
Pilots use communication for support and advice through the tricky patches. Maybe it’s worth checking that your communication channels are working before a storm arrives.
A pilot knows their plane. They know how it interacts with pressure and what its limits are. They watch the sensors to make sure that the plane is functioning well. If something breaks, they have a plan in place for that. They have thought about that beforehand, been trained in how to react, what signals to send, how to adjust their journey and even to make an emergency landing if needed.
This is where noticing your own responses comes in handy. If you know your limits, you can make a better decision when the pressure is on. You know what your options are when things are getting too much. You can send signals to those who can help you and even have a positive exit strategy if you need it.
People who have navigated enough hard times learn to take notice of their own reactions. They may run on autopilot but they remain observant and take over manually when the circumstances require it. They aim for a destination even if it’s going to take lots of little flights to get there. They have a crew that they communicate with at key moments.
Others rely blindly on doing things the way that they’ve always done them and complain when things don’t go well. As a novice pilot, you fly alongside an experienced one and learn. If you desire different outcomes, start watching someone who has handled tricky situations well. Walk alongside them. Learn new skills.
Autopilot is amazing, but it will only do what it is programmed to do. If you want change, you’re going to need to start taking notice of your environment, your reactions and your limits and decide when autopilot is working in your favour or if you need to guide the aircraft.
Many people give lip service to wanting to change, but they aren’t willing to observe and they’re not willing to make manual adjustments.
Start noticing how you respond in different situations. You can be intentional about your responses and land in a different place than you would have on autopilot.
Remember, autopilot is there to assist the pilot. For the best outcome, a pilot remains attentive during the flight and makes adjustments when needed. You are not bound by your autopilot, you can intervene and reach your destination a better way.
Bon voyage!
