I have always loved to speed. I never drive so fast that I could lose my licence, and never recklessly, but rarely abiding by the law with respect to the speed limit.
I drive powerful cars and I drive safely, but I do like to open up and go fast on an open road. Driving fast like this creates a certain tension in me. I used to pride myself on being able to sense the presence of police cars and would slow down just before coming upon them on the other side of the crest or around the bend. I rarely got caught. To be honest, I think I liked the thrill of it, the rush of it, the feeling I was ‘getting away with it’.
But I have since come to realise that driving in this way creates a narrowness of focus. I am always focussed on the speedo, the sides of the road – looking for likely hiding spots for police cars – and focussed on the other cars, wondering if they are well-camouflaged or unmarked police cars.
I am also always coming up behind slower moving vehicles, so they are always ‘getting in my way’. This leads to impatience, frustration, and sometimes even internal rage.
The other day, I was driving to an appointment. It was a sunny day during school holidays, and I was driving on a highway the police love to patrol. I started off as usual and then thought: “Why not just drive on the speed limit?” So I did.
Driving on the Speed Limit – a Revelation
I drove along at 100 km an hour, instead of 120, and slowed down for road works and built up areas, always travelling within the law and abiding by the speed limits. This created an enormous ease and openness in me and my whole awareness opened up. I was not just focused on the road and on my speed, but was able to be aware of and appreciate my own self, my body and everything around me.
Because I was driving at the same speed as everyone else, the whole road opened up around me. No-one was getting in my way, I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally.
I felt a great stillness, and a great sense of joy.
What do I mean when I say I felt a great stillness?
I am usually a little racy, on edge, my mind going quickly, jumping forwards and back in time… and all that even though I no longer choose to drink coffee or eat sugar! I sometimes try to fit too much into each moment and so am often running late, rushing to complete tasks and get to the next one.
In this space that I created by driving within the speed limit, just by allowing myself to drive within the road laws, rather than forcing myself to go faster to get somewhere, this raciness fell away and I was left feeling a great stillness and spaciousness within me. And I had the understanding that this sense of stillness and space is always there, living within me, if I allow myself to slow down and feel it.
And then I wondered why I had spent 35 years speeding while driving, depriving myself of this pleasure; the pleasure of abiding by the law. I realised that the law is there, not to annoy me, or to be flouted for the sake of it, but to keep us all as safe as road laws can, no matter what kind of car you have, what the weather conditions are, and how much traffic is on the road.
What part of me thinks I am above or exempt from this law? The part that thinks I am smarter, more alert, have a better car – that the law does not apply to me?
What part of the law says that it is for everyone but me? Abiding by the law comes from the understanding that we are all equal, and that the law is for everyone, equally so; and if we choose to break it, no matter how special we think we are, there will be consequences for us, as there are for everyone else.
This has been an amazing and humbling experience for me, and a great lesson in true equality. And to experience stillness within while in motion is a far greater joy than any cheap thrill (which can become an expensive fine!) that I ever had when speeding. Now, all I have to learn to do is leave enough time to get where I am going, as I drive whilst abiding by the law!
I am forever inspired by the life and work of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.
By Anne M, Northern NSW, Australia
Further Reading:
Caught Speeding
Driven to Distraction
859 Comments
There is something very communal about travelling on the roads by car, as we all move together around bends, stopping at lights, going from one lane to two or from two to one. A bunch of strangers moving with each other, abiding by the laws of the road together, communicating with indicators and brake lights. And as we each travel on, never to see one another again, there was a moment of harmony between us, regardless of uniform, religion, cultural beliefs, skin colour, nationality. We were moving in unison.
I have noticed when I am in a flow with life and feel no rush I am given lots of opportunity to help people on the road by letting people out or letting pedestrians pass. I love this as I can feel its all part of one big flow.
When however I am in a rush all these opportunities are lost.
So true and it’s a great reminder to slow down and not lose ourselves in the busyness of life and self imposed deadlines.
We are often paying a high price when we think we are ‘getting away’ with something. The joke is on us.
Love what you have shared Anne, and may I add that when we drive to the speed limit it actually takes close to the same time to get to our destination stress-free. So nothing to be gained from driving fast.
This is evident Gregg when you see people driving erratically to jump the queue only to find that they are only two cars ahead when the cars have come to a stop or traffic lights.
It takes a willingness to be honest to truly be able to observe how our bodies feel before, during and after we do things such as driving fast or speeding. As what we then are led to is the reason as to why we would put our bodies in tension whilst seeking a thrill and allow the opportunity to address this, change our behaviour to bring a greater feeling of harmony in our bodies and life.
Beautifully expressed Carola, and when we bring greater harmony to our bodies and life, we offer this as a reflection to the rest of the world.
I can relate to this even though I don’t drive. I am never separate from the world, I am always a part of the system and this is not something I can run away from. It does not mean the system is here to control me, it is my choice in how I see things.
Driving to the limit can allow us to feel the responsibility that goes with being on the road with others. An in built respect indicator that is shown with the speed we all choose to drive to keep each other safe and get to our next point of call.
On a bit of road trip this afternoon so this article comes as a point of inspiration to remember the space, stillness and steadiness I feel when I drive within the speed limits.
“I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally” – I’ve never realised this before but it’s so true, when we are rushing or driving only to reach our destination it’s like our focus becomes all about US, and other cars become more so obstacles than other people! When we recognise that a journey is actually much more than going from A to B then the space opens up and we actually naturally communicate more through using our indicators, brake lights, mirrors and so forth as we are no longer in the stress.
That is so true that when we slow down and give ourselves the space to feel things then you are able to connect to the stillness that is on offer. What is super cool is to be connected to this stillness and then drive in a way when you don’t loose this. I can feel how much this is actually having an impact on the roads and all the cars around me.
It is so simple. It is interesting that we want to speed ahead of our natural flow and rhythm in life, this is not just on the road, but in how we approach life in general. And then, right in front of us is a physical, tangible rhythm that can support us to get a sense of what it is like to work within the flow of life, this is the speed limit and road rules.
Any part of our body that is wanting to go faster is a marker of a tension or an unease we are feeling from where we have been or where we are going.
I love this blog Anne, as I can relate to it having been a very similar driver. The way you have worded this I found very interesting . . .” rather than forcing myself to go faster to get somewhere,” . . . it was the word ‘forcing’ for it is as if we really do call in a force when we speed up to get somewhere, a force we don’t really want in our body!
This blog has often come into my mind as I joyfully flow with the roads and drive at the speed that is there to be driven at. It’s quite a different experience to feel that as opposed to trying to keep on or just over the speed limit. There is no flow in our driving when we do that and it’s all control and tension.
I don’t drive but when I walk steadily and with presence on the busy streets of HK it is the best gift for myself, a surrender to the body and it feels amazing it is possible to be this in the hustle bustle of the city, wouldn’t the city feel it too?
Driving in presence can be such a joy, just as many other ordinary tasks and activities in life, yet we often miss these moments in life by racing forward or back in our minds.
Recently I bought a new car, not completely new but almost, and the most expensive car I have bought to date . I found myself driving so much more carefully in this car and with myself when I was not driving. Although I am less hesitant or cautious now I am still very careful and drive within the speed limits and am much more courteous to other drivers. I leave extra time to get to places but ironically I am also not rushing around before I leave so much either. Time is expanding and holding me in its cradle. It feels very supportive and life has a more harmonious flow.
I have never made the link between driving at the speed limit and equality before but I can see that now that when we only think about ourselves and our own needs to save time or make our own journey shorter we are not considering the bigger picture and the impact that our movements have on everyone and everything around us.
Coming from one that previously ‘loved’ to speed I now can say how far more honouring in every way it feels to drive the speed limit, as the raciness is replaced with a great sense of settlement and awareness of not only my body and being but everything else around me. This is a beautiful revelation you have shared Anne, that the spaciousness and stillness is ever-present within us, we only need to allow it to be felt and lived.
Driving can be a great opportunity to just be with ourselves, remain present and enjoy what we are doing. Perhaps it is the simplicity of this that we avoid?
If you speed and are not respectful to abide by the law on the road there are consequences. I acted the same and drove how I wanted – I paid for it many years later. The way I drive now is in connection to all — being aware of who is doing what and I know intuitively when they are going to make a change. Confirming this awareness and supporting stillness in flow is far healthier than being in a forced tension. It’s a wonder why there is more road rage due to less speeding because of speed cameras and the more traffic on the roads. If you speed and drive, your an unaware idiot.
We race through life at breakneck speed enjoying the ‘thrill of it all’ or so busy getting from A to B we have not even registered the momentum we are in. Yet it is in Stillness that the Soul resides and speaks to us of the truth of all things, so in-truth it is only ourselves – our true selves – that we are running from.
A truly revelatory statement you’ve made here Liane, and one that I could feel I have fallen into myself in that when I have made myself in a rush to go somewhere, zooming around in my car, it has many times been to avoid feeling some issue or hurt that is there under the surface to be dealt with and heal. It’s an easy thing to just check out in the car, indeed. But after reading this blog I took the suggestion to slow down offered by Anne here and was quite surprised at how different it felt and how I went from a feeling of “get out of my way, please” to “wow, this feels pretty awesome being a part of a greater whole” and I could feel how much more calm and connected I was in my body.
I agree Anne, it is much more enjoyable, more relaxing and less exhausting driving within the speed limit and you arrive at your destination intact.
I am on board with this, I have had some shaky moments when I have driven too fast for certain road conditions and circumstances and the tension has felt is exhausting. I am driving safe, aware of the road and other users and I am really enjoying it. There is nothing we need to race to, we can not trick time. We need to respect one another and drive aware of each other and ourselves on the roads, with more care.
Great reflection! I am going to totally re-view my driving and feel into why I held such notion as you described before; thinking that I am more special or that I will not be caught (oh that mind game!). Great place to bring back equality, there is no superiority. I love what you share about being on the road with others – not just you (individually from a to b). Great wake up call – a responsible one too! It would be interesting to see if this is actually a cause of many of our accidents on the road?
I have observed that when I drive my car at an even pace within the speed limits and stay very aware of all that is around me, I arrive at me destination in good time and very fresh and vital, whereas if I have driven fast to “get there in time” I arrive exhausted, frazzled and disconnected from myself.
‘Driving fast like this creates a certain tension in me.’ It’s interesting how the desire to get to point B makes us want to get there as quickly as possible, rather than focusing on the quality of how we get there. I notice all the time how this desire and the propensity to speed makes my body feel tense, whereas simply allowing myself to take my time not necessarily wanting to overtake everything in my path supports me to stay with my body and to enjoy being more in the moment. I wonder how much time I actually save by speeding as opposed to not speeding, but I do know that the quality I get to my destination in far outweighs any minutes I may shave off my journey.
Anne, this is very gorgeous to read, I can feel how I often go a little faster than the speed limit, even if I have plenty of time and I am aware of the tension with this. As you say there is a reason that there are speed limits for ours and everyone else safety. When I do drive at the speed limit I really enjoy this, it feels very spacious not to be in a rush and to simply enjoy the journey rather than only being focussed on the destination and trying to get there as quickly as possible.
It is so much more truly joyfull to drive in a way that honours everybody around us and the safety for all.
I can feel the expansion in my body by driving that way.
When i drive in a way to fullfill my need for speed etc to experience excitement in any way i contract my body which gives no space for joy.
Sometimes it is interesting reading a blog again a few years later and observing how much I have changed. I remember the first time I read this blog feeling the horror at the idea of driving at the speed limit or being behind a slow driver as I drove a bit faster in the way you initially described. However, these days I can also enjoy driving at the speed limit exactly as you have described!
I hadn’t quite looked at it like that before but its true, often when people break the law it comes from a sense of ‘I have a right to do this’ its an entitlement that comes at the expense of others. Great to point this out.
This is a great blog to come back to. Leaving enough time to get to a destination invites a feeling of steadiness and calm driving within the limit. Leave with an edge of not having quite enough time and feeling a little stressed invites some raciness, speeding and road hogging.
Yes and not leaving enough time also invites a slow driver to pull out in front of you!
Anne I love what you share “And to experience stillness within while in motion is a far greater joy than any cheap thrill (which can become an expensive fine!) that I ever had when speeding.” I took have connected to this stillness and it is an amazing feeling.
I have a device in my car for my insurance that monitors my speed, which means I am always driving the speed limit. What I find really interesting is other people’s responses to me driving the limit – people get very irritated and quickly aggressive. It is really interesting how close to the surface our irritations, frustrations and anger are when we drive, and how much quicker we let it out when we are seemingly isolated in our cars
I love that I now drive long distances sitting right on the speed limit… Passing speed cameras with equanimity, and definitely no stress.
To be aware of a shared space whilst driving is an effortless and fluid way to drive – and gives greater awareness of the drivers who are speeding and could cause potential harm to others.
“I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally”.
I love how you describe the stillness that we can have whilst in motion. I know from my own experience that when I do this that time expands and there is more space for everything that is needed.
I’ve felt this too combined with an inner steadiness that prepares the body to and from the next destination.
I have had a very similar experience – there is more freedom in abiding by the speed limit than there is in speeding, outdoing and overtaking! It might sound unbelievable but can clearly be felt in and from the body.
I so know what you are talking about Anne. I have similar behaviours in me. And like you, I changed my style of driving immensely. I know this proud, that you can´t get caught and I have to admit, that I still play with it sometimes. Especially when I have many long hours to drive there is a little stubbornness why I should slow down on certain parts of the motorway, which does not make sense to me. Your blog is a great reminder that it is more important in what quality I drive instead of how clever I am whilst driving.
The way we move our car along the road gives us a very clear indication of the way we move our body through life, as does it also clearly portray the energetic quality of the driver we let behind the wheel. Do we move in and with all the love that we are thus opening up space and moving in accordance with all others that share it with us, or do we move against this at breakneck speed, jeopardising the safety of others to ‘speed up time’ and thus shrink space and using the thrill of it all to justify our chosen contraction away from this love?
What a beautiful sharing and understanding of space opening up when simply going along with the speed limit and all this opened up to you . The flow and ease of driving this way you share feels so lovely and something to reflect on with the steadiness and ease life can really be.