Conveniently Deluded

You are driving your kids to school. You thought you left enough time, but traffic is worse than usual this morning. You’re staying calm, but there is a little bit of tension building up in the car.

Just as you are going to turn so that you can squeak the kids in before the bell, some guy in a Land Rover cuts you off AND blocks you out so you have to wait an entire light cycle before you pull into school.

You have a few choices about how to react. You can:

~scream, yell, pound the steering wheel and make rude gestures at the Land Rover (who is already long gone).

~huff, puff and make irritated groaning noises while telling your kids about “some people!”

~get super mad at yourself and/or your kids for not leaving earlier to get to school on time.

~decide that Land Rover guy has a family emergency that he has to deal with and that was why he so rudely cut in front of you.  

You may be shaking your head.

Lorna. Please.

You know perfectly well that Land Rover dude does not have a family emergency.

Maybe he does. Probably he doesn’t.

That is not the point here. You will more than likely never know what Land Rover is up to.   

But having compassion and understanding for Land Rover helps you.

Your job is to live as much as possible in a peaceful and happy place. If being conveniently deluded about other people’s behavior is a way to maintain residence in peaceful and happy land, don’t you think you should utilize it??

Because what is the alternative? Being all mad and flustered every time someone does something that you disapprove of?

That can have you angry a lot of the time.

Isn’t it easier to make up a story as to why someone feels the need to break the rules?

You can even make it a fun and creative game.

Maybe Land Rover is driving recklessly because he’s being attacked by a turkey in his car.  

If you and your kids come up with stories like that, you might even look forward to people misbehaving.

So what do you think? Would you be willing to give conveniently deluded a try?

I would love to hear about it if you do!

Hugs,

Lorna

In order to change your life, you must first change your mind.