What kind of person are you when you drive? Driving in your car could be a relaxing and enjoyable experience and it used to be a symbol of freedom. I drive a lot for my line of work and I see many things on the road on a daily basis. Driving can also be a source of unnecessary stress and could cause you to be in a bad mood. Road rage brings the worst out of the nicest of people and it seems that we forget who we are when we get behind the wheel.
I seem to notice a lot of people frowning or look as if they are mad when they are driving and seem ready to explode the minute someone gets in their way. This is not only unhealthy, but can also be dangerous to you and others. I propose to innovate and change the way you drive and to remember who you are when you get behind the wheel. We all have to drive, so why not make it a better experience. This post gives a few tips for having the wind blow in your hair and enjoy the open road and the feeling of less stress and anger when driving.
SMILE
Be mindful of your expression as this can affect your overall mood. I think many people feel that they need to be on the defensive and aggressor to not be disrespected on the road. Remember, we are all people and we all make mistakes. Imagine that the person who didn't see you as they try to change lane is your mother, would you feel as mad? Try smiling to alter your mood versus stressing yourself out and putting on the most aggressive driving face you can muster. In all reality, nobody really knows who is in the car next to them, so nobody is trying to be disrespectful. Yes, there are ignorant drivers, but just be glad that they passed you without causing you any harm. If a person drives poorly and is dangerous, they are also dangerous in other areas of their lives and they are just an accident waiting to happen. Nothing we do, or yell in the car will help teach them a lesson. It will only cause our blood pressure to rise and our stress levels to increase. Smile and enjoy your drive and let things pass as it is not worth the drama.
BE KIND
It is hard to be kind when the driving world is mainly mad. I am always on the road and what I have learned is that, I can control how I feel and react to things. Let the others stress on something that is just an activity to get us from one place to another. Take the high road and do the right thing, which is the hard thing to be the better person and to be kind. People will always be in a rush, it doesn't help if we try to get in their way and create a finger full of expressions and yelling that nobody hears or cares about... let them pass and be on their mad way.
IN A RUSH
In all honesty, I think people just don't plan well enough to leave in time to get where they need to be and they are rushed. There are times when you truly are late for reasons that you can't control but if you do the calculations, you really don't get there any faster by driving faster, O.K., you might get there 5 to 10 minutes max sooner, but the level of stress and danger you put yourself in and others is not worth it. You will just reach being more stressed and flustered quicker than anything else. Control the urge to be in a rush, and if you are late, we all have cell phones now and letting the person know that you are running late will be understood. Next time, be in a rush to leave early versus trying to make up time on the road.
JUDGING PEOPLE
How dare that rude late merger person trying to merge while everyone else waits in the long line, I won't let that idiot go. Ever think that, or prepared as you step in your car? People are rude, ignorant and sometimes they missed the turn. Why are we so judgemental when we are behind the wheel? It is as if the road is the place for society to teach one another about how rude we all are, but when we are in face to face situations, we pretend not to see rude behaviour and look the other way. I guess it is just easier to judge and be the enforcer when we are behind our protected capsule, but the inner talk does nobody any good. The idiot will continue being an idiot, or maybe its just a person who couldn't merge sooner because it was jammed or that they didn't realize that it was their exit. Remember to be kind, smile and go on your way without having the idiots of the world get to you.
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It takes practice and self control to be pleasant while driving, but trying will help. My driving experience is much nicer and safer because I just let things go and understand that I cannot teach others lessons of their rude and bad behaviors. Stay calm and in control, try being kind and you will start to see the pleasant transformation of less stress and enjoying your drives again.
I recommend taking a look at this book: Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)
From vuvan.com, post Innovate the Way you Drive
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