The other day, I was doing my daily five-minute meditation with my husband at night. The mediator for our meditation asked us to picture ourselves in a car with fear in the driver’s seat. I thought about some stereotypical things, like a macabre, dark grey car with a driver who looked manic. I sat on the passenger’s side, observing his actions. It was chaotic and not pretty.
Next, she asked us to picture happiness in the driver’s seat. Instead of the same car, I pictured a pink, cheerful car complete with heart decals. I sat beside happiness and felt a beautiful calm over me. Her driving was relaxed, serene, and collected.
Choosing to Accept Unwanted Passengers
But halfway through this part of the exercise, my mind decided to put me in the driver’s seat. 🚘I invited both happiness and fear into my car. I willingly let happiness sit shotgun, but fear went to the backseat. I couldn’t help but feel the great significance of my visualization. I was slightly surprised, but soon thrilled to see what my brain was trying to do–it is ok to drive with both happiness and fear in the car–they both have a place in my life. I appreciate both, but I will always be in the driver’s seat.
The mediator for our meditation asked us to note the feelings we experienced throughout this exercise and how our bodies reacted to each scenario. I realized the range of my feelings, but also felt a sense of excitement that I willingly invited not just happiness, but also fear into my car. This meant, to me, truly, that I don’t need to banish any feeling I have, whether it’s gentle or manic or good or bad…it’s all a part of life. No matter what feeling I have at the moment, I will always be at the helm. I will always gladly sort through all the feelings–because they all have a place. I welcome fear–because that means that I’m challenging my comfortable habits, some of which are not always best for me. Fear does not need to be feared–it has its place. Even if it’s in the backseat.
Some Topics for Discussion
Do you drive with any unwanted emotion? What do your cars and drivers look like? Leave a comment below ⬇️
A Lil’ Disclaimer about comments:
This blog is meant to be a springboard for discussions on some tough topics. It’s so easy to feel alone, but you’re not!
That hurt you feel? Someone knows it, too.
It doesn’t mean your hurt is less important. It means that you’ve got someone out there that is bound to understand. At least a little.
Things can get tricky. Not all people are kind. But most are just trying to survive.
It’s important to honor the nuances in what someone else is going through, too. Your experience is your own.
It’s complicated, yes.
I’m happy to encourage others to share their stories. Like on any other platform, vulnerability comes with risks. Don’t share unless you feel comfortable. You can count on me in the meantime to put it all out there. 😅
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