For a majority of what we do, we are not aware or are emotionally driven by outdated wiring.

Taking control of our lives involves checking in with ourselves, setting boundaries, and being proactive.

Expect to feel guilt or self-criticism for breaking old patterns, but persist at behavioral change.

How are you? People probably ask you this several times a day, and if you’re like most, you likely reply with 'fine' or 'good' without thinking about it.

Research shows that such automatic responding is more common than not, with 40-70% of our day spent on routine and habit, leaving us unaware of what we're doing and feeling. And if you tend to be a people-pleaser, have AD/HD, are hypervigilant due to high anxiety or trauma, are impulsive, or self-critical, it all worsens: For many good reasons, your emotional brain is running the show and your rational brain is offline most of the time.

This unconscious way of living is very different from the mindfulness we’re capable of. If you‘re feeling too disconnected from yourself, if you’re tired of your emotions and brain running you rather than you running them, maybe it’s time to take charge. Here are six ways to help you stay connected to yourself and your life.

#1: Check in with yourself.

Checking in is taking your emotional pulse. Once an hour, ask yourself how you’re feeling on a scale from one to ten—one being completely emotionally........

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