Answer this question to the best of your ability:
How can I build my mindfulness muscle while driving in heavy traffic?
Building your mindfulness muscle while driving in heavy traffic involves a few key steps. First, take a deep breath to bring more oxygen into your body and widen the space between the stimulus of the traffic and your heightened stress reaction. This helps you gain perspective and choose how to react. Next, ask yourself what you need in that moment to feel safe, at ease, or to find relief. Understanding your own needs brings balance. Then, give yourself what you need, such as releasing tension in your body or repeating phrases of self-compassion like "May I be at ease, may I feel safe, may I be happy." Remember that all other drivers on the road also want to feel safe and happy, so recognize their humanity and offer them the same compassionate phrases. Finally, take another deep breath and continue with your drive. These practices can help you stay centered and calm even in the snarliest of traffic jams.