ARE YOU ON AUTO PILOT?
This week we are starting something new here at Dave Martin International. We are starting our DMI Team Blog. I have the honor of having some of the brightest people in the church world and business world on my team, and I thought we all could learn something from the knowledge and experience they have. I hope you enjoy this as much as we think you will. Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let me know what you thought of today's blog and any subjects you'd like to hear more about.
ARE YOU ON AUTO PILOT?
Humans. We are all creatures of habit. Pattern and repetition, repetition and pattern, over and over.
I recently moved to a new house in a new part of town. I am finding my way around the new area, learning the ins and outs of the new shopping plazas where I run my weekly errands.
Last week, on two separate occasions, I had to make a trip to a certain store in my old neighborhood. Both times, without even thinking about it, I found myself back at my old house, not realizing it until I was pulling in the driveway.
I was a human auto-pilot.
It made me think two things. First - I thought about how the new owners must think I am a real creep, haha! Secondly, it made me really think about the nature of habits.
This isn't a profound post based on hours of research and contemplating. Most blogs usually aren't. My favorite blogs are the ones that just make you stop and think for a second about something you wouldn't ordinarily think about.
So, that leads me to my thought for today. Habits can come in three forms - good, bad, or maybe just neutral. Good, bad, or indifferent.
We like to categorize habits as good or bad. Driving to the old house that I was used to driving to really wasn't a good or bad thing. While my husband may argue that I should have been paying closer attention if I was behind the wheel, the fact that I ended up at my old house really wasn't harmful to myself or anyone else.
Is it a habit I want to break? Yes. Is it a bad habit? Not necessarily.
The key to this whole thought is really the fact that habits can come in various shapes and forms. But being self aware and recognizing habits - good, bad, seemingly meaningless, or those with incredible implications - is the key to any sort of development or growth.
Sometimes it might take ending up in the wrong place a couple times to really become self-aware.
Don't let yourself go in to auto drive. Take some time - daily, weekly, monthly - to take a look at the things you do. Figure out the good and the bad, and then adjust where you need to adjust.