Signs You're Living on Autopilot
- Kaiana Lewis
- Jul 6
- 6 min read
When I first thought about creating a devotional series for Earth Garden, I honestly didn't know where to start.
I knew the topics.
I knew the values.
I knew the things we talk about often—peace, rest, surrender, self-care, slowing down, and walking with Jesus.
But writing a devotional series felt different.
A little intimidating, if I'm being honest.
I'm not a pastor.
I'm just a girl who loves Jesus.
Sure, I could tell you that I've spent years studying Scripture. I could tell you about the Bible classes I took for fun in college. I could tell you about the devotionals I've written, the messages I've spoken, or the countless hours I've spent discussing faith with people from all walks of life.
But none of those things are why I'm writing this.
I'm writing this because I need it.
I need these reminders.
I need these conversations.
I need someone to ask me the questions I'm about to ask you.
So before we begin, I want you to know something:
I'm not here because I've mastered this.
I'm here because I'm learning too.
I'm not standing on a stage above you.
I'm walking beside you.
And if at any point during this devotional series you have thoughts, questions, stories, or struggles you'd like to share, I'd genuinely love to hear them.
You can leave a comment below.
You can send me a message.
I'm not unreachable.
I'm right here with you.
And that brings me to today's question.
How are you?
No, really.
How are you?
When was the last time you stopped long enough to find out?
Most of us can answer questions about our businesses.
Our ministries.
Our families.
Our schedules.
Our goals.
Our responsibilities.
But when someone asks us how we're actually doing, many of us don't know what to say.
Because somewhere along the way, we became experts at paying attention to everything around us and strangers to what is happening within us.
And I think that's where autopilot begins.
Not with a dramatic collapse.
Not with burnout.
Not with some huge life event.
Autopilot begins quietly.
One rushed day at a time.
One ignored feeling at a time.
One unchecked burden at a time.
Before we go any further, I'd like you to do something.
Set a timer for five minutes. Then sit. Don't check your phone. Don't answer emails. Don't scroll. Don't multitask. Just sit. Let the room become quiet. Let the hum of the air conditioner fill the silence. Let your thoughts settle. And then begin to notice.
Are your shoulders raised?
Is your jaw clenched?
Are your hands tense?
Is your stomach carrying knots?
Are your eyes tired?
Is your back aching?
Are you breathing deeply or barely at all?
Is your chest carrying something heavy?
What emotion is sitting underneath everything else right now?
What are you carrying?
How are you, really?
Take a moment.
I'll wait.
...
Hi!
Now that you're back, let's talk about something I think many of us experience without realizing it.
Autopilot.
I think creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, ministry workers, and influencers are especially vulnerable to it.
We're good at functioning.
We're good at producing.
We're good at solving problems.
We're good at showing up when people need us.
We're good at carrying responsibility.
But sometimes we're so focused on what is happening around us that we stop paying attention to what is happening inside us.
And over time, that disconnect costs us.
Not because we're weak.
Not because we're failing.
But because we're human.
So before we talk about solutions, let's start with awareness.
Because awareness is always the first step.
You can't surrender something to God until you notice it.
Signs You're Living on Autopilot
1. You Can't Remember the Last Time You Checked In With Yourself
Not your schedule.
Not your business.
Not your ministry.
Not your family.
You.
Many of us can tell you our goals, deadlines, and responsibilities.
But ask us how we're feeling and suddenly we don't know.
Autopilot often begins when we stop paying attention to ourselves.
2. Your Days Feel Like One Long Blur
Monday becomes Friday.
January becomes June.
One project becomes another project.
One obligation becomes another obligation.
And suddenly weeks have passed.
You were there.
But were you present?
Autopilot doesn't always feel busy.
Sometimes it feels numb.
3. You Forget To Breathe
This is one of my biggest signs.
Not that I stop breathing completely.
I just stop breathing deeply.
My breaths become shallow.
Quick.
Almost invisible.
And the strange part is that I usually don't notice.
I can spend days like that.
Sometimes weeks.
Working.
Planning.
Building.
Serving.
Creating.
All while my body quietly carries tension I haven't acknowledged.
Then eventually something forces me to stop.
A hard conversation.
A disappointment.
An unexpected moment.
And suddenly I take one deep breath and realize how much I've been carrying.
Maybe you've been doing that too.
4. You Stop Feeling Things Fully
Another thing is I think I do is block emotions.
Someone could say something mean or rude and I won't even register it.
Someone could say something super nice and kind or even I love you and I won't even be phased by it, I'll just say thank you so much and move on.
And I do this because when I'm on auto pilot I'm emotionally unavailable.
Sometimes I've become so focused on moving forward that I've stopped experiencing what is happening around me.
The result isn't peace.
It's numbness.
And numbness doesn't only block pain.
It blocks joy too.
5. You Don't Know What You're Carrying Anymore
Stress becomes normal.
Pressure becomes normal.
Anxiety becomes normal.
Responsibility becomes normal.
You've carried it for so long that you've stopped noticing its weight.
But normal doesn't always mean healthy.
6. You Feel Distant From God But Can't Explain Why
You still believe.
You still pray.
You still go to church.
You still listen to worship music.
You still read Scripture occasionally.
But something feels distant.
Not broken.
Just disconnected.
Sometimes the problem isn't that we've abandoned God.
We've simply become too distracted to notice Him.
We've become busy doing things for Him while forgetting to spend time with Him.
Reflection Questions
Take a few minutes and answer these honestly:
Which sign stood out to you the most?
Which sign surprised you?
Where do you feel tension in your body right now?
What emotion have you been avoiding lately?
When was the last time you felt fully present?
A Small Practice For Today
Before you move on to the next thing, stop.
Right now.
Take three slow breaths.
Relax your shoulders.
Unclench your jaw.
Put both feet on the floor.
Take a sip of water.
And ask the Lord one simple question:
"God, what is happening inside me right now?"
Don't rush to answer.
Just listen.
A Moment In The Garden
I took our autopilot quiz and scored 75%.
My first thought was: "Wow."
My second thought was: "The people around me deserve a present version of me."
Not a rushed version.
Not a distracted version.
Not a version of me that's physically here but emotionally somewhere else.
Present.
Present with Jesus.
Present with my friends.
Present with customers.
Present with the people I love.
And maybe that's what this devotional journey is really about.
Not becoming more productive.
Not becoming more impressive.
Not becoming more efficient.
But becoming present.
One moment at a time.
Because you cannot surrender a life you're too distracted to notice.
Scripture
"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10
Prayer
Jesus,
Thank You for meeting me in the middle of my busy life.
Help me notice what I have been ignoring.
Show me where I have been rushing.
Show me where I have become numb.
Teach me how to slow down enough to hear Your voice again.
Help me become present with You, present with others, and present with myself.
Amen.
If you enjoyed this article, I'd love to invite you to join The Green House. It is a space where I help ambitious women recover from the emotional weight of modern life.
Every week you'll receive a 3-minute reset for your nervous system, one short devotional, one practical self-care habit, and one journal question to help you slow down.
Thank you for reading the first installment of this series.
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