The illusion of power

He was freaking out. He honked, flashed his lights, tailgated, and did everything he could to show his rage.

But the truck driver didn’t care. He was passing another truck at his own slow pace while everyone behind him had to wait. When the left lane finally opened up after five minutes, the guy in front of me sped past. He flashed a middle finger and honked one last time, showing just how worked up he was.

I understood his frustration. I was on my way to pick up a friend from the airport and she had her luggage in record time. She was already waiting for me, so I was in a bit of a hurry too.

But when I checked the clock upon arriving, I realized I had only been delayed by one minute.

That man wasn’t having a meltdown because he needed those sixty seconds. He lost control because the world didn’t live up to his expectations.

Most of us don’t react so dramatically, but we can feel the same frustration. We have a clear idea of how our days, our businesses, and our lives should go. Yet there is always a gap between our plans and reality.

Sometimes it’s just a traffic jam or a shitty client. Other times, it’s a key team member suddenly quitting or a market change that turns your business upside down.

The moment the plan fails, we have a choice.

We can change direction, ask for help, or find a way to deal with this new reality. Or we can get caught up in drama.

The drama is that inner voice that insists everything should be different. It’s the loop of “why is this happening to me?”

We often make it worse by telling it to others, sharing how unfair it all is, and repeating what happened.

Venting like this feels like a release, but in reality, it’s adding fuel to the fire.

The drama doesn’t solve the issue; it just drains the energy that’s much needed to fix it.

Being angry feels active. It feels like you are doing something, even if it’s just screaming in your car. In truth, it’s a shield we use to avoid feeling completely powerless.

It’s a lot easier to be pissed off at a truck driver than to accept that you have no control. We would rather feel the heat of anger than the feeling of being stuck.

But we only stay stuck as long as we insist that things should be different. The moment you stop fighting the reality of the situation, the tension drops.

That’s when you realize that life usually finds its own way. And when you stop trying to control every turn, you make room for outcomes you could not have planned.

Enjoy your day,

Yvette