Today's technique: The Robot!
There are times when I feel really nervous and scared driving. Sometimes it is icy or wet roads or it might be people driving recklessly (or both). My heart races, my muscles tense up, and sometimes I forget to breathe! I needed to come up with some ways to remind myself to calm down and deal with the commute rationally and safely.
One process that I figured out that works for me is The Robot. When I notice myself feeling afraid and tense, I take a deep breath and imagine that I am a robot. As an android, I have no emotions and it is my job to observe others and arrive at my destination intact.
If someone changes lanes suddenly in front of me, I tilt my head and think, "that was an unexpected action for that human to take. They must be running late. They should have planned ahead more wisely. It would be helpful if they made smarter choices in the future." By using this thought pattern, I detach myself emotionally from the shock of what the other person did.
If someone is following me closely, I think, "the human behind me needs to go faster. It is in my best interest to remain at the speed I am already going. Police officers frown upon speeding. The human behind me may change lanes and go around me when it is safe to do so." By using the word "human" frequently, it helps me keep emotions at bay -- a reminder that robots do not feel (well, most of them anyway. ^_~). Just remember to "become a human again" once you reach your destination.
I hope this technique works for you!
Bonus tip: When someone is driving carelessly/dangerously, instead of getting upset, I take a deep breath and say, "Be safe" to them. They cannot hear me, but I put intention out there, and hope that they will be more careful. (It's a much more effective 2-word combo than some others! Ha!)
