If you're anything like me, sitting in traffic must be one of the worst situations for your well being. I hope for you that this is not the case for your life, but I know it is an affliction for millions of people. And what I mean by a traffic affliction is that your blood pressure rises, your anxiety and fear increase to astronomic levels, and you develop an angry rage at every person who gets in your lane or gets to an exit before you, and even at those brazen drivers who risk it all to drive in the shoulder lane!
The sad thing about the traffic affliction is that all of our measurable physical and mental reactions to being stuck in traffic are a result of our perception. The way we think about the situation (and not the situation itself) has ignited the fight or flight response in our brain and endocrine system, and we have on some level begun to equate the consequences of traffic to being chased by a large predatory prehistoric mammal.
Our hormones go into overdrive, signally to every part of our body that we are at risk of death, causing the ego to become angry at everything standing in our way of survival. This has a really terrible effect on the body and not to mention the emotional and mental parts of our being, and I believe if we don't learn very quickly how to resolve the traffic affliction is this lifetime, we are bound to many lifetimes of learning to eradicate our egoic road rage!
Our livers, hearts, and especially adrenal glands need some healing and relief from this insane hyper-activity, and if we don't correct the problem sooner rather than later, we are setting up for a future of repeated stress and failing physical health.
While I haven't completely figured out why we perceive slow or stop and go traffic as a direct insult to our individuality, I think it may have to do with all the things it inhibits. I'm gonna be late! My brakes are going to fail! I might run out of gas! What a waste of MY time! Why are there so many people living in MY city?!!!! The thought patterns are endless. But if you're here reading this post AND you suffer the traffic affliction, you are meant to change your thoughts and your life by applying what you read.
I try really hard to remember a few things when I get stuck in traffic, but I admit it is not easy. The most important thing is to accept that just because I'm stuck in traffic, there is nothing wrong with ME and there is no reason for me to be so frustrated. The traffic affliction can be looked at as a traffic BLESSING, because you get to be alone (or if you carpool, hopefully in excellent company) and you can use the time to work on some spiritual matters. Even if you're going to be late, it's not like being late = death. Develop a mantra or find your favorite verse from your favorite scripture or keep a cd of soothing music on hand to help you remember that this is not a big deal. "I am stuck in traffic right now because I need some time to clear my head before heading in to work; Just because I am stuck in traffic I do not have to be angry at the people around me or the situation itself." A good verse to remember is Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In the Hindu faith, the deity Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles - I keep an app of his mantra on my phone to listen to when I'm feeling really, darkly stuck. You can find it here. Find what works for you and use it!
Count your blessings. Say them out loud and number them. "1. I am so lucky to have a reliable vehicle that is comfortable, warm, and where I am able to totally jam out to my favorite music. 2. I am grateful that I have this or that person in my life. 3. I am blessed to have food, water, shelter, and clothing, and even that I have this traffic affliction because there are so many people in the world who are suffering." And so on.
The car is a great place to clear your mind. Once you've accepted that the traffic isn't really affecting your true life, take some time to allow your body to feel that decision. Clear your mind of anxious thoughts, slow down your breath, relax your shoulders, arms, and legs, and envision all the other cars as just being part of the same cosmic web...all with the same problems, just different versions, and all with the same fear of being eaten by a saber tooth tiger loose on the freeway. Once you begin to see yourself as part of everything, and everything as part of you, you allow the illusion that you are separate to slip away, and you can relax into the wholeness of the world. This might be a bit difficult to do on the fly when you're in the heat of traffic anger, so try it now, before you go on the road again.
Allow things to just be as they are, and take no part in identifying with them. Traffic affliction can encourage you to make yourself better. If you fear being late to work every day, ask yourself some serious questions about it. What is likely to happen if you're late again? Is it going to kill you? If you are constantly late, ask yourself why, and what you can do to get somewhere ahead of schedule - what parts of your own life need remodeling so that you can avoid this situation altogether?
If you have anxiety about driving in genearl, is it because you've had a car related trauma in the past? Have you sought help in alleviating the fears associated with it? If not, find a good therapist to help you, and also look for support in getting around other ways for a while. Give yourself a break. There is no reason to subject yourself to repeated stress just so you fit an external expectation of how your life should go.
If you have tried some of these things and just can not overcome the traffic affliction, this might be a sign from the divine that you are not aligned with your life's purpose at this time. Maybe that sounds a bit weird to you, but think about it. Ask yourself if your life is making you happy. Is whatever you get out of your daily exposure to the traffic affliction worth the hours of misery you suffer? And what exactly are you getting out of it? Do you feel fulfilled by your work? What are you contributing to the greater good? Journal about this (not while in your car) and see what you come up with. You might need a life makeover.
I encourage you to make the time to investigate yourself. You are worth it, and you deserve joy and health in your body and your mind. You deserve to do fulfilling work. If you need some help finding your path and staying on course, I'd love to help you on this journey. Get in touch with me today!
