I left our home in South Boston, Virginia, five minutes later than planned. I was still going to be 25 minutes early for a class in Halifax, but that was later than I wanted.

Heading up North Main, a lane was closed for powerline work. Once I cleared that, I had to wait in a long line at a light. My mind: “Why do I always get stopped by this light?!? Are there really that many people who use Dan River Church Road?”

I reminded myself that where we lived previously in Georgia had many, many more traffic lights, with much longer waits. By comparison, I should not get upset now. Logically.

Then I hit the yield sign turning right on U.S. 501. The yield sign which most drivers here treat as a stop sign. “Don’t people understand what yield means?!?” I then reminded myself it wasn’t a very good yield lane, and the drivers were just being safe—a good thing. Empathy is so much better than blame.

Finally, in Halifax there was more traffic than normal. Understand, for 10 years I commuted to a job in Atlanta—90 miles round trip, through the worst traffic in the nation. Here I was, complaining about a few vehicles…in Halifax. Upset about traffic in Halifax! (population 1,300)

So I laughed…at myself. This humility was the best thing I could do. I have deep ruts of anxiety from a life of too much overthinking, too much critical thinking. It is easy for me fall into those well-worn ruts. Instead, I laughed, and congratulated myself for recognizing this old pattern.

I could have gone into a negative loop. “Ray, why are you thinking this way? You are such an imposter for teaching these mind/body classes, writing mindful living columns, and yet here you are getting impatient at a little thing! Will you never learn?” That would have made it even worse.

The next time you find yourself impatient, falling into a familiar rut, consider having a good laugh. At yourself. It’s the best medicine.