Driving is stressful. Mostly because everyone has their own beliefs and philosophies about what makes a good driver. One of my beliefs is that letting one car go in front of me, merging or exit a parking lot, is not going to make or break my day. So when cars are clearly trying to merge onto the right lane and the right lane cars don’t let them over, or worse, speed up to make sure they can’t merge, it really drives me nuts. Their rudeness causes a whole line of cars to come to a complete stop causing worse traffic. All they need to do is tap their brakes. Let one car over to avoid a greater traffic jam. Do one small gesture to avoid a later headache.
So, of course, I start thinking about other areas of my life in which one small gesture saves me time, energy, or headaches in the future, and if others do the same. And how does it impact your life?
I started noticing other ways I “tap the brakes”:
- Rinsing my dishes right after I’ve used them. Saves me from scrubbing dried on food
- Stretching or doing yoga, when I can. Saves me from injuring myself when I work out.
- Working out one to three days a week. Saves me from possible medical problems in the future/old age.
- Being open with friends or family about my expectations. Saves me from feeling resentment later in case things didn’t go as planned.
- Call insurance companies to verify client benefits before their first counseling session. Saves me from headaches of trying to get paid retroactively.
- I see a therapist regularly. It keeps me mentally healthy to be able to take care of my own clients.
Those listed above are just small ways that illustrate how doing a small extra gesture now will make life easier in the future. What are ways in which you “tap the brakes”? How does it make your life easier? Feel free to share your tips and tricks so that the “greater good” can benefit !
Thanks for reading!
Mountain Mindset Counseling 