I too seem to live in a world populated by idiots, inefficiency, inconvenience, and horrendous manners. It's pretty ghastly. I've been a complete Type A person my entire life and so are both my parents.
When I got cancer, I realized I'd have to learn to live completely differently and change that Type A into a Type B if I had any hope of surviving. To that end I had to go looking for people who had managed that kind of transition and found it. One of my very dearest friends isn't just a Type B, he's like a Type C. He's Baloo. If I could get to that point, I'd be much happier. Another friend is a Type A too but had a moment of profound insight thanks to some road rage and he's been using Buddhist meditation practice to improve his balance and patience. On his advice, I began doing the same thing and seeing a rather unconventional counselor who is also familiar with Buddhist practice.
I'm terrible at meditation. I have the worst monkey mind ever encountered. Monkey mind happens when you meditate and all that supposed blankness gets filled with all kinds of wandering thoughts and you've found that all you've done for 10 minutes is think about all your problems. I kept sticking with it and eventually that began to wear off but it's not easy. I have to re-center myself. I also can't meditate in that ridiculous lotus position so I lie on my bed and do it. I get much more comfortable and peaceful that way. Meditation becomes easier with practice.
Does it help? Yes it does! It helps enormously with my frustration and anger levels and also helps me deal with pain and other stressors. Following zen techniques have provided me with a great deal of help in understanding myself and others as well. I find I'm more patient, more tolerant, more forgiving, and more easy going. I've got a long way to go, I admit, but I'm not stressing the small stuff so much.
I am a very impatient driver. The only place I've ever driven and been completely happy is in Germany. I don't let my stress effect my driving though. I have far too much respect for my skills and my car to let it get to me. If I have to sit in traffic or get stuck behind a slowpoke then I just hang back and deal as there is no other choice. Nothing is so important that I need to endanger myself or others. That has always been my mantra. What's useful to me is transferring my thoughts about driving to my thoughts about all the other situations which do get me frustrated enough to do something physical. You might want to think of similar situations in which you always retain control and then try to think of those situations when you feel you're going to lose control.
Either way, consider some simple daily meditation. You don't have to shave your head or talk like you just stepped off the set of Kung Fu, but try it for a month. Ten minutes a day in a comfy chair just trying to clear your mind can be a huge help. Like I said, it won't come naturally and you may even feel frustrated that you can't manage it, but stick with it and you'll find it gradually gets easier.
Why, what's it to you? :irked:
