This is where a powerful shift in self-awareness often begins for many new drivers. We step into the busier area, and almost immediately, the pressure hits like a tidal wave. The road ahead is a tight squeeze between two long rows of parked cars, with barely enough space to navigate. To add to the challenge, there’s a car right behind us, practically glued to our bumper. No escape, no place to pull over—just the necessity to slow down and inch forward as we carefully navigate through what feels like an endless line of obstacles.
Finally, we reach an intersection and turn right, thinking we’ve shaken off the tailing car. But no—there they are, still behind us! “Did you pay them a dollar to follow us?” The driver says jokingly as we both laugh, but underneath the humor, the stress level is at a solid 10/10.
And then it hits me: maybe I should’ve stuck with the quieter area for this warm-up. This “new and improved” residential area is way too congested. The realization may come with a chuckle, but it also carries an important lesson—a lesson in knowing when to pause, recalibrate, and, most importantly, say, *”No.”
The Skill of Saying “No”
For many new drivers, stopping the car and saying, “This is too much for me right now,” doesn’t come naturally. Instead, they feel trapped in the chaos, their energy drained by the stress and panic of navigating a high-pressure situation. I call this the skill of NO.
It’s the ability to recognize when something is too overwhelming and to ask for a way to make it simpler. It’s not about avoiding challenges forever—it’s about creating space to breathe, lowering the stress level, and shifting the focus back to learning rather than just surviving.
For fearful drivers (and let’s be honest, their fear is often very wise), this is a critical milestone. Driving isn’t about gritting your teeth and powering through anxiety. It’s about building calm control, step by step, with patience, self-kindness, and the courage to set your own pace.
When you learn to say “No, this is too much for me right now,” you’re taking control of your driving journey. And that’s not boring, weak, or slow—it’s a purposeful, deliberate path to calm, confident driving. That balance is entirely within your reach with time, patience, and the right environment.
And I am happy to come with you on this journey.
Come, and start your road to calm driving today with Cooper.
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