Wheel logo

From Nervous Wreck...

To Respectable Road Warrior

By Michael ThielmannPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
Like
More affordable, but still outside my current price range.

When many of us think of our favorite cars, it can bring us a feeling of almost childlike excitement. My dad had an old Porsche 914 that he was restoring when I was growing up, and his passion and enthusiasm for cars in general was contagious.

In keeping with my own values and love for innovation, my car of choice that excites me the most is the Tesla Model 3. I feel we are long overdue for a transition into a sustainable form of energy and transportation, and Tesla is certainly very conscious of this as well.

That aside, I have also found driving to be a great way to get in touch with the core of what it means to be human, our basic sense of self. This can often mean confronting some rather uncomfortable aspects about our humanity. I've had clients tell me they catch themselves uttering things in anger when they are driving that they would never say at any other time, not even on social media.

I've also helped counsel people who have had extreme fears behind the wheel. It's almost as though as soon as they get in the driver's seat an overwhelming sense of their own mortality kicks in as they realize the fragility of life; their own and all those around them.

Driving phobias are not often talked about, although bad driving is certainly a great topic of conversation. (Perhaps some "bad drivers" are actually just scared drivers.)

I have had the pleasure in my career to help some extremely neurotic drivers learn how to face this innate fear both in the driver's seat and beyond. It's all about the breathing; when we can learn how to breathe in challenging situations, we will gradually overcome anxiety and anger as well, contributing to a much-needed decrease in road rage.

Learning how to drive well involves really living in the moment. When we can let go of the past and future and just be where we are, the ride will be that much smoother. Fear is all about what "might" happen: "What if I get in an accident? What if my car breaks down on the highway?"

Anger is all about what "just" happened: "I can't believe that [expletive withheld] guy cut me off!"

The more we can just breathe, relax, and enjoy the ride the more people around us will also benefit from our positive attitude on the road. Being a respectable road warrior means recognizing that everyone has their own journey, and yet we are all sharing the same highway of life.

Anyone living in a big city can empathize with the sheer number of hours that can be spent in a car on any given day. It's so easy to see our driving time as a means to an end. We're going somewhere, and we want to get there ASAP.

Unless we happen to be on a racetrack, we will largely be limited by all the factors beyond our control; other cars, traffic lights, speed limit signs, and all the other obstacles that confront our desire to live life in the fast lane.

Chronic speeders may find themselves slowed down by red and blue lights, and eventually realize that slow and steady wins the race. Many people with driving phobias often have the opposite problem; they drive too slowly to try to calm their nerves.

It's all about learning balance, in mind, body, and soul. How we behave as a driver is a good window into our soul. If we can master the art of city driving and maintain a positive attitude, there is little in life that can phase us. For more info feel free to contact me. www.seedsoflove.ca <3

how to
Like

About the Creator

Michael Thielmann

I am an addiction and mental health counsellor living in Salmon Arm British Columbia. I love engaging with people about overcoming any challenges in their life and being vulnerable and open about my own process as well. <3

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.