Do you remember that day you stubbed your toe with your first step out of bed?
We’ve all been there.
And if you’re not careful, that misstep could throw your entire day off track. The same is true for anything that goes wrong in your life, big, or small.
Has anyone ever pointed out that your clothes only ever seem to get caught on a door handle when you’re in the worst mood?
This is because negative energy attracts more of the same.
And this isn’t the type of energy you want to put out to the world when you’re wielding a massive machine like your vehicle (even a Prius weighs nearly 3,000lbs).
And if you need more convincing, here’s why it’s important to be in a healthy mindset while driving.
Road rage causes accidents
Remembering that negative attracts negative, things can quickly spiral out of control when other drivers are uncourteous on the road. Your anger can drive you to act erratically, which can put everyone on the road in danger.
When people experience road rage, they may do things like suddenly applying the brakes or aggressively tailgating. In both situations, there may not be enough time for a driver to stop and prevent an accident.
And as angry as you were about the initial incident, you’re going to be even angrier when your car is totaled.
Getting into the car when you’re angry drastically increases your likelihood of experiencing road rage – even if you’re not someone who is prone to it.
Getting lost in your thoughts could get you literally lost
Have you ever gone on autopilot while you’re driving? You’ll know it happened when you arrive at your destination without any memories of the drive there. If you haven’t had this experience, you’re in the minority. Most of us have done it at one point or another.
And this type of autopilot mode usually works out when you’re in a routine. But let’s say you have to stray from your routine one day. If you’re in autopilot and lost in your thoughts, you’re highly likely to miss an exit and get lost in reality. At best, you’ll have to turn around and risk being late.
Distracted driving can take lives
Distracted driving is a major problem in our society, and it’s not all about mobile phones. If you’re not in the right mindset when you enter your car, you’re likely to be very distracted by every little thing. You don’t have to go full-on autopilot to be distracted. If you’re feeling especially anxious, you may hyper-focus on one thing and completely miss something else. There are plenty of safe new cars to help combat this natural phenomenon, but it’s best to try to shift your focus before you get behind the wheel.
Driving requires your full and balanced attention. Whenever you’re struggling to give it, it’s time to pull over and change your mindset. Take a few deep breaths to help reset and get back to your path.
Have you ever driven with an unhealthy mindset? This doesn’t always end in disaster, but the potential is greater, for certain. What was your experience?
