Life sometimes feels like a highway which is bumper to bumper in expectations, wants and needs. Have you ever tried getting somewhere when you were rudely cut off, tailgated, or delayed by an agonizingly slow driver? What was your reaction? Often we don’t take the time to look at these incidents objectively. We read too much into things, saying to ourselves, Why is this person slowing me down? I’m in a hurry and they need to get out of the way! We forget that the annoying driver is a someone also trying to get somewhere. Our fast-paced society makes us all feel anxious about getting where we need to go. In the end, this can even lead to road rage.
Have you ever been at an intersection, minding your own business, when a honk startles you out of your daydream? You feel offended and upset. What you may forget is that the intrusion wasn’t anything personal. That driver behind you felt the stress and anxiousness you yourself have felt. She didn’t realize that this offense was nothing personal, just a simple case of not seeing the light turn green.
It may be tempting to “get even” with other impatient drivers, perhaps with a glare as they zoom past you. On the other hand, when I’m the offending driver, I may offer a sorry smile. But the important thing is to understand the reason for the driver’s behavior. Recall what it is to be stressed and in a hurry. Acknowledge this, and as much as you can, move out of the way and let the anxious driver – and all those negative thoughts – go on past.
