The Shift From Default to Design Starts With Awareness
Have you ever been driving, only to realize you passed a stop sign but can’t recall if you actually stopped? Or walked into a room to grab something, got distracted, and left without it?
Barring any cognitive issues, this is what some call being on autopilot. And let’s be honest—it happens more often than we’d like.
We wake up, scroll, drink coffee, work, answer emails, attend meetings, go home, watch TV, sleep—then rinse and repeat. Days blur into weeks, weeks into months. But how often are we truly present?
Many of us go through life reacting instead of intentionally choosing how we spend our time, how we treat ourselves, and how we show up for others.
- We rush through interactions instead of fully listening.
- We scroll endlessly instead of engaging in real life.
- We respond out of habit rather than with intention.
I looked up the word intentional—it means “done on purpose, deliberate.” Imagine how different our days could be if we infused more intention into them.
- Replacing mindless scrolling with a quick call to check in on someone.
- Taking a moment to connect with a colleague before diving into emails.
- Reading something that nourishes our personal or professional growth.
- Capturing moments of joy and gratitude in a journal.
Small shifts in awareness lead to big changes over time. So today, I challenge you to pause and ask:
Am I being intentional right now? Design or default…because the difference between simply existing and truly living comes down to that choice.