Life on Autopilot
Why Does it Feel Like We're All Living in a Trance?
Have you ever looked around-—maybe while waiting at a stoplight, trapped in a meeting that should’ve been an email, or three scrolls deep into yet another pug video on YouTube-—and thought:
Are we all just... reacting?
Like life is happening at us, and we’re just blinking, typing, sipping our overpriced coffee, vaguely aware we exist but not really here?
Well... you might be hypnotized.
Not by a guy in a cape and a pocket watch, but by society, screens, and your own brain’s clever autopilot system.
Your Brain on Autopilot
Up to 95% of our behavior is automatic, driven by unconscious habits and environmental cues, not by deep thought or intention. That means your brain is running a program most of the time, and you’re just... coasting.
This “default mode” is actually a feature, not a bug. It saves energy for important stuff, like running from bears or crafting the perfect email sign-off (cheers? best? warmly??). But when life becomes a loop of predictable routines, your conscious self slowly leaves the building.
Why We Fake Happiness
If we’re being honest with ourselves, half of us are emotionally constipated. We smile when we’re sad, say “I’m good!” when we’re not, and pretend to love yoga even though our hamstrings scream like haunted accordions.
But faking it isn’t just cultural—-it’s contagious.
Multiple research studies have found that emotional states spread through social networks, and people tend to mimic the moods and behaviors they see most frequently. So if your group chat is full of #blessed selfies and hustle memes, odds are you’re performatively “fine” too.
Living Someone Else’s Dream
So many of us wake up at 35 (or 45... or maybe younger):
I don’t even like this life I built.
We followed a formula. Got the job. The degree. The houseplant we’re 50/50 on keeping alive. But if your internal GPS never recalculated, you might be living someone else’s version of success.
Dr. Gabor Maté, trauma expert and professional truth-bomb dropper, calls this the “disease of inauthenticity.” Suppressing your true self for social acceptance is a recipe for stress, illness, and spiritual heartburn. Maybe that’s why society, with all its scientific advancements, continues to get sicker and sadder with time…
"Where Did the Time Go?" Syndrome
The older we get, the faster life speeds up. But it’s not just you. It’s neuroscience.
Your brain uses temporal compression to streamline repetitive experiences. If your Tuesday is indistinguishable from your Thursday, your brain logs it as one data point, not two. And suddenly, it’s October and you still haven’t returned that library book from April.
This is why new experiences feel longer and more vivid. Your brain stretches time when it’s making new memories. No wonder kids think summer lasts forever and adults blink and it’s tax season again.
So How Do We Wake Up?
Here's what science believes helps shake off the trance:
Mindfulness
Not just incense and chakras. Even short bursts of meditation reduce stress, improve focus, and increase self-awareness. Try a 5-minute body scan or just stare at a tree without naming it. Boom! Present.
Novelty
Do something new or slightly ridiculous. Eat dinner backwards. Wear socks that don’t match. Take a different route to work. Novelty activates the brain's dopamine system, making life feel fresh and exciting.
Connection > Performance
Let your guard down. Say what you really feel. Being real (even awkwardly) deepens relationships and decreases emotional burnout. Vulnerability is the ultimate trance disruptor.
Audit the Dream
Ask yourself, “Who am I doing this for?” If your schedule reflects someone else’s priorities, it might be time to update your software. Start small. One “no” at a time.
The Big Reminder
You are not here to optimize your inbox or win at life like it’s a game of Sims.
You are here to be. To feel. To create. To stumble toward something real.
Sometimes that means throwing out the script. Sometimes it means screaming into a pillow, or dancing terribly, or crying because a kitten made eye contact with you.
That’s not failure. That’s presence.
And presence is what breaks the spell.
If this woke something up in you (or mildly shook your inner sleepwalker), share this post, leave a comment, or just do something today that isn’t productive but feels authentic.
And hey…if you caught yourself nodding through this on autopilot, consider that your sign.