S1 • #59 • The Cure for Autopilot •

Episode SummaryWhite tea is subtle, which makes it perfect for practising presence. In this episode, we explore Shoshin (beginner’s mind) as an antidote to living on autopilot - plus a 3-minute tea routine to help you taste your life again, even when your brain is doing admin.In this episode, we cover:* Why life can start to feel “same, same, same” as routines harden* Shoshin (beginner’s mind): openness without preconceptions, even when you’re experienced* The Einstellung effect: when your brain sticks with the familiar option even when there’s a better one* A rainy rugby match, a cold beige tea, and the moment you realise you weren’t really there* The contrast: sharing a pot of tea at home as a “container” for presence and conversation* The science-y thread: mind-wandering, the default mode network, and why novelty wakes attention up* Why white tea helps: minimal processing + delicate flavour = attention trainingYou don’t need a new life to feel awake - you need new attention inside the life you already have.Resources and Links* Shoshin - beginner’s mind (Medium): https://medium.com* Einstellung effect - The Decision Lab https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/einstellung-effect * Meditation & default mode network activity (Brewer et al., PNAS, 2011): https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1112029108* Novelty & dopamine & memory systems (PMC review): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6352318/* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like Rose Petal Purify.Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.Erica xThe Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theteamind.substack.com/subscribe