Wake Up to the Way You Do One Thing…

Commuting on the motorway provides you with an insight into the way people behave.

Have you ever been frustrated by the way other people drive? Do you get annoyed or angry when drivers behave in a way you find unacceptable.

Every day, while commuting, I see people act in “interesting ways” on the road. Some cut across to lane 3 on the motorway when lanes 1 and 2 are empty. Some sit in lane 2 doing 55-60 mph when lane 1 is clear. Others cut across me into my lane, seemingly just to stop me getting past them.

In any event, they seem to be frustrated by their eagerness to “win” their position on the road and stay in front of other drivers.

I won’t pretend that I’ve always been the “perfect” driver. Years ago I would have strived to stay in front of the others. I would have driven too fast and made sure I took “pole position” on the road.

However, I observe the “road ragers” and the “road hoggers” now and find myself simply aiming to avoid them and take the journey at my own pace. Safe and perhaps a little slow for some.

It occurs to me that this is just like life really. In the early years of our lives and careers we spend so much time wanting to be better than everyone else. We aim to position ourselves in some way elevated above others. We go for the next promotion. We work towards being in front of others. For what purpose?

It is said that the way we do one thing is the way we do everything.

So it seems to me that life is far more relaxed and easy when we are simply aiming to be better than ourselves day by day. That way there is no judgement and comparison to others. By intending to just improve oneself day by day life is a lot less stressful and we get to be more at ease. Why bother comparing ourselves to other people when what it is really important is simply looking inside and asking “how can I be better today than I was yesterday?”

On the road, I’ve taught myself to simply observe “that was interesting driving” when someone does something I consider to be an act of “winning” or at worst “stupidity”. This enables me to come from a place of calm and ultimately resourcefulness should anything go wrong. I believe I am then in a position to react carefully and safely should an incident occur that requires skill and care of me.

Does this make me better than the other drivers? No. It simply means, I suspect, that I arrive at my destination with less stress and frustration. Thus, I am probably in a space of resourcefulness rather than stress, in a state of happiness rather than anger.

So my invitation to you this week is to take some time out there [the big wide world] to ask yourself “what is my purpose in gaining this advantage?” or observe when something is simply “interesting” rather than placing judgement on what is. You may find that life is far less stressful and you reach your destination with more peace!

Wake Up to The Way You Do One Thing…

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