IQ Tip: Improve Your Mileage

Written by Kim Allen Wednesday, 07 March 2012 00:00

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Back in the day, I spent a lot of time on the Los Angeles freeways. And it was not unusual to arrive at my destination not remembering how I got there! Sound familiar?

“So what?” you might ask. Well, not remembering how you got to work is potentially dangerous. But aside from that, don’t we typically spend a lot of our time in the car ruminating about how to fix or resolve something that is causing us some worry or anxiety or frustration?

We know that worry rarely fixes or resolves anything. Yet, what most of us don’t know is this is the stuff that stress is made of. Negative attitudes or emotions, however subtle, start a cascade of biochemical changes that can certainly help us away from tigers, lions and bears. But, here we’re sitting in a car! No wonder we’re exhausted after a tough commute!

Rather than paying attention to some worrisome situation, there is something you can do to 1) change the chemical mix to one that better serves you and 2) increase your awareness: Replace worry with appreciation. Appreciate the scenery or the music on the radio or a certain person or a favorite pass time.

It works. You’ll discover you have more energy for whatever is at the other end of your journey and you’ll see things you never noticed before.