A quote from the infamous David Foster Wallace commencement speech titled This is Water.
The 20-minute monologue is littered with golden life advice, though none more potent than the concept of “default mode.” AKA, the natural human wiring to view the world through a self-centered lens that can cloud empathy, patience, and restraint.
I’m certainly guilty of it. I think most people are.
It is hard not amid the routine of everyday life. That is why my wife and I created a game of it. When one (or both) of us becomes agitated with a situation, the other will call out “default mode” or a personal favorite; “are we the ones fucked up here?”
In either case, the subtle question serves as a quick jab to wake up, detach the self-centered lens, and take an objective view. We land in a better mindset to help someone else… Or, at least laugh at the comedy that is human nature.
Try it.
The next time a precarious situation arises and you really want to blame another person or give somebody the business… ask yourself, “default mode?”
Cheers. NH.
Stop for one. 