Our Default Settings

4/26/20

Those of us who are privileged enough to be able to shelter at home during our current crisis are hearing a lot of chatter about how we should be spending our quarantine time. 

Be productive! Do nothing! Learn a language! Practice self care! Get in Shape! Bake bread! Binge Netflix! 

However, no one should be telling anyone how to deal with quarantine because we all cope differently. Each of us has a unique default setting based on our individual subconscious beliefs and patterns.

Yes just like a computer or smart phone has a default or factory setting- 

We have preprogrammed ways of reacting and coping as well. 

These “default settings’ come from our subconscious beliefs and patterns that are so deeply ingrained in us that we easily fall back into them- especially in times of great crisis.

In other words, when we don’t feel “safe” (physically or psychologically) we often revert back to our default settings.

The awareness that we all have well practiced ways of responding to crisis can help us to have more compassion for ourselves and others. 

Some of us deal with stress by being extremely busy and productive. And some of us cope by being reflective and going within. Some of us clean and organize. Some of us take bubble baths and sleep until noon. 

So when you find yourself wanting to judge someone (or yourself) for how they are reacting to a crisis or a stressful time- just stop and acknowledge our differences- remember that they are just reverting back to their default settings. 

Yes, we can reprogram our subconscious beliefs- we can reset our default settings. 

This change takes a great deal of self awareness. It takes work and a lot of self love. 

But for now just acknowledge and get to know your default settings. 

And be aware of the default settings of those around you. 

We all cope with stress differently. Lets all give each other the gift of compassion. Our world could use a little more of it right now.