When I was a newer driver, I found there was a specific situation that was creating a lot of stress and anxiety for me. This is whenever I was in line, in a car, at a stop sign to turn right. Now in a situation like this, you look to the left (in the United States at least, where you drive on the right) for a break in traffic that you can then make your turn onto the street.

What I found was, if I was in line, say, several cars ahead of me at the stop sign, I kept trying to look to the left to watch for a break. Since I wasn’t actually in the car in front at the stop sign I did not always have the best view to the left. And I found this was creating a lot of stress for me; I was frustrated that I couldn’t see to the left.

I remember one day it suddenly clicked: I don’t NEED to look to the left when I’m not in front. I can just look at the car in front of me and as they turn I can then pull forward. I don’t have to look to the left until I’m in front, and I’m the one waiting to make the turn.

Once I figured this out I found my stress level during driving dropped dramatically. When waiting for my turn at a stop sign I was way more relaxed. In fact, I could even take those few moments to mentally rest from driving.

The lesson here is pretty self-evident. There’s times things are out of your control, and so getting stressed or anxious about it doesn’t accomplish anything. Instead, focus on your place in the processes and projects, make the decisions and perform actions and tasks as they flow to you, and don’t get stressed over external things you cannot control.