Before you start driving,
Take a few deep breaths and focus on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of your body.
As you begin driving,
Bring your attention to the physical sensations in your body.
Notice the feelings of your hands on the steering wheel,
The pressure of your feet on the pedals,
And the movement of your body as you shift gears or turn the steering wheel.
Continue to breathe mindfully,
Focusing on how the air goes in and out of your nostrils.
If your mind starts to wander,
Remind yourself this is normal.
When going from one place to the other,
We tend to think either about where we are coming from or where we are going.
Take this trip as an opportunity to be present in the moment,
Focusing on the road ahead and how you feel.
If you get distracted,
Try to bring your attention back to your body and the physical sensations of driving.
Appreciate your surroundings,
Noticing the colors of the street,
The cars and the buildings.
Notice if there's any trees and plants,
Keeping always the focus on the road.
Assess how the driving makes you feel,
Embracing both if the road is calm or chaotic.
Even if driving or traffic can be stressful at times,
You can always decide to drive peacefully,
Enjoy the ride and appreciate the opportunity to practice mindfulness.
If you feel that you're being bothered by other drivers' actions,
Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself that you are safe and in control.
Allow yourself to focus on your actions instead of reacting to what others might do.
When you arrive at your destination,
Take a moment to notice how you feel,
Without rushing to the next appointment or place.
Hopefully,
You will feel more relaxed and focused than when you started driving.
I wish you a nice rest of the day and hope you enjoyed your mindful drive.
You can listen to this meditation on different journeys to get into the habit of driving mindfully and enjoying more your drives.
