Two – three weeks ago I wrote about why driving brings out the worst of us. However, as always, it’s all about perspective, therefore there are some psychological benefits of driving, under some circumstances.
As I mentioned in that post, “I believe the car acts like a shell, a secure place where we can feel free, especially if we’re alone in the car. When we’re alone and we’re secure, our subconscious becomes powerful, mainly because the barriers set by our conscious (and/or society) don’t matter (and that’s because the lack of them impacts nobody). This brings me to the conclusion that driving alone becomes the perfect environment for making us feel free. If we feel free, it doesn’t matter the importance of what happens around us. When we’re free, every little thing happening around us acts as a trigger for what we want to express, but we are stopped by the conscious/society barriers. So, if the barriers are gone thanks to the perfect environment, there is nothing in place to stop us to release our deepest frustrations.”
But what if those frustrations are released without the anger? The best example is a long ride on an empty road. How does that make you feel? For me, it’s very relaxing. I feel like all my problems go away and I feel like all the weight is lifted from my shoulders. I feel free and all my frustrations go away, but without the anger. Why is this happening?
My best guess is that there are no triggers, so the frustrations can disappear smoothly and in their own rhythm, whilst during driving in the city those frustrations are forced to get out when they are triggered by certain circumstances.
Imagine having a full glass of water and you try to empty it slowly in the sink (the long relaxing drive) compared to emptying it all at once (the stressful city drive). I bet the second one will be messier and there will be splashes everywhere in that sink, and maybe even outside it.
A long drive on an empty road is like a walk in the park for me or like a quiet evening near the beach. In that time my mind can do whatever it wants without interruption, a thing that is not possible when driving in the city on busy roads.
How do you feel when you have long rides? Do you have similar experiences?
PS: If my writings mean something to you and if you feel you can learn anything from me, check out my book (Fighting the Inside Dragons) on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback format!
I love driving on the country roads. Cities are busy and packed full of emotional drivers and constant noise and advertisement lights. It’s too much. But the empty quiet country roads with their long silences is something quite refreshing and relaxing.
Great post.
Thank you very much for reading and for your kind words, Kendi! Indeed there is too much noise inside the cities and that’s why people living in large cities are so tensed…
Pretty much. Traffic adds to the tension already present in their lives from work, family, personal drama, emotions and frustrations, etc.
I grew up in a rural area with a road network that made it possible to take 5 different paths to any location. I used to like to spark one up and drive around aimlessly for hours. It was very relaxing rarely seeing another car and never having to worry about making a wrong turn because every road ended in a familiar place. Thanks
That sounds very relaxing! Do you still live in that area?
Driving around the last few months has been great….empty roads. Never liked bumper to bumper
I’m wondering if there are people that like to drive bumper to bumper…
Haha, could there really be people who enjoy that? I hope not. What tension!
If there are, I hope they’ve got good car insurance.
Nice perspective mate. I love driving on empty roads, its like i’m in a flow state. One with myself
Thank you very much! I’m yearning for such drives…
True. Best way to describe it.
I’ve always enjoyed driving, its been great the last few months. Now that the weather is warm I can get out in my convertible one of my few indulgences.
That sounds great! Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts!
Long drive in a simple smooth car having music, ac or heater resets the mood
Yes, it does! Thank you very much for reading!
Driving psychology is nicely analyzed and explained. I like your writing skills 👍
Thank you very much for your kind words! <3
I absolutely love to drive. Driving alone especially, relaxes me. Loud music and my own thoughts…the best way to reduce stress. I live in rural SW Missouri, so everytime I go to town I can unwind on that 30 minute drive to and from. 😀
I do the same thing as well! I love driving alone with loud music! That’s when my thoughts feel free!
So interesting! People always say to let out your frustrations but I’ve never thought of a relaxing car drive or walk as being a way to do that – but you’re right! It’s a much more productive way to let out all the anger than taking it out on someone else.
Thanks for liking my recent post too, as soon as I saw your blog name I knew it would be one I’d follow 😀
Thank you very much for reading and for sharing your thoughts! Driving can have so many different effects.
It wasn’t long after getting my driver’s license at age 16 that I discovered how soothing a drive on back roads, alone, could be, a way to think through all the usual teenage issues while gaining space from parents and siblings. Works just as well for adult “stuff” and I can sing along to favorite music without anyone complaining! A completely different mindset and experience from driving in city traffic.
Especially the singing part, because no one is there to judge or wince at your singing. So refreshing.
Oh yes, two very different experiences!
My family goes on long drives to the countryside in the summer and I love them. Very scenic, the air is fresh, the roads are not packed. It is, as you said, like a walk in the park. Driving in the city during rush hour brings out the worst in me. 🙂
Same on that last part. Practically unhealthy.
If you do those long drives every summer, it’s awesome! <3
Great analogy!
Thank you!
I love driving in the country. We take a lot of road trips and make videos of our travels. I enjoy the roads now a little more because they are quiet. I enjoyed the blog!
It sounds awesome! Thank you very much for reading and for sharing your experiences!
Thank you for reading
I live on a relatively tiny island called Trinidad and Tobago with a population of approximately 1.4 million and let me tell you driving is a NIGHTMARE. For such a small island everyone has a car and everyone drives everywhere that they need to go. Traffic is a major drag for the working class as it takes at least an hour to commute to work daily.
That sounds tough! Do you have any public transportation there? Wouldn’t that be a better alternative?
Public transportation also utilized the same route as everyone else and its limited
Your post reminded me how much I like driving, putting some calm music on while making my way through the countryside.
This got my mind thinking about where I live, and how our environment can shape how we experience the world around us. I have moved around a few times in the past decade and I’m ready to live somewhere for a longer period of time. I’m currently living in an urban apartment, and I realise I miss having a yard, and being able to visit neighbours easily. Maybe along with a long drive every now and then, I need to find somewhere to live where my mind can release its worries too?
Thank you for this thought provoking piece.
Thank you very much for reading and for sharing your thoughts!
Great post! I haven’t read the original yet but I will definitely do so now! A change in perspective can make the world of difference! I’ll add this to my blog schedule and share it to my page in a week or 2!
Wow! Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!