We each have a “robotic” level of consciousness that allows us to function like a machine—a taskmaster that handles life’s routines without requiring constant thought. It is the part of our brains that, once a skill is learned, takes over and executes it seamlessly.
Think of when we first learn to type, drive a car, or speak a new language. At first, every movement is deliberate, slow, and conscious. But with practice, the process shifts into autopilot, executed far more quickly and efficiently than our conscious mind could manage. From that moment on, our awareness is freed to focus on other things while the task runs in the background.
The problem is not that we have this robotic function, but that we allow it to take over too much. When we become overly dependent on it, life begins to feel like something that happens to us rather than something we make happen.
This is why so much of our experience can feel oddly unreal. When we drift through days in a robotic state, events slip past us without truly engaging us. Without feeling real enjoyment or interest, our experiences become dull repetitions, gradually losing their meaning. This is the mechanism underlying emotional numbness, burnout, and even depression. And this is why explorers seek out hardship and danger—to break free from the robot’s control and experience life with heightened intensity.
When we do seek to shut the robot down, we often turn to crude methods—alcohol, drugs, extreme behavior. These can momentarily free us from the robot, allowing us to feel life’s richness more acutely, but at a cost: they dampen not just our automatic processes but also our ability to act effectively. Similarly, crises and threats can force the robot to relinquish control, demanding that we take over. But once the danger passes, the robot resumes its job, optimizing efficiency, conserving energy, and handling life on our behalf.
The goal is not to destroy the robot, nor to rely on constant “shock treatments” just to feel alive. The key is understanding how the robot works and why we developed it in the first place. Awareness of this duality—the robot and the conscious self—allows us to navigate life with intention. It enables us to shift between efficiency and deep engagement, ensuring that we live not just by habit but with awareness, presence, and the possibility of sustained peak experiences.