You’re Not Stuck in Traffic—You Are Traffic
We’ve all been there. Sitting in a sea of brake lights, sighing dramatically, muttering about how traffic is the worst. And yet, if you zoom out for a second, there’s a harsh truth we tend to ignore: we are the traffic. We’re not innocent bystanders caught in an unavoidable catastrophe—we are the catastrophe.
This, my friends, is a perfect example of how humans love to externalize problems. It’s a universal habit. We blame them—the other drivers, the bad weather, the system. But rarely do we look at ourselves and think, Wait, am I part of the issue?
The Psychology of Blame: Why It’s Always Someone Else’s Fault
Our brains are wired for self-preservation, and a huge part of that is protecting our ego. Admitting that we are part of the problem? Oof. That’s a tough pill to swallow. So instead, we create a convenient narrative where we are just innocent victims of a world that refuses to cooperate.
Psychologists call this self-serving bias. When something goes wrong, we blame external factors ("Traffic is awful today"). When something goes right, we take full credit ("I got here early because I’m great at planning"). It’s a built-in mental loophole that keeps us feeling good about ourselves.
The irony? If everyone thinks they are the victim and someone else is the problem… well, congratulations! We’re all the problem, together.
The Irony of the Traffic Mindset
Think about it: we complain about slow drivers while also slowing down to check our notifications. We roll our eyes at people merging at the last second, but when we do it? Strategic maneuvering. We honk at bad parking jobs, yet suddenly forget how to align a car properly when we’re running late.
It’s not just traffic. This mindset creeps into every part of life:
At work: “Why does no one take initiative?” (Says the person waiting for someone else to speak up.)
In relationships: “Why don’t they make an effort anymore?” (Says the person who also stopped planning date nights.)
On social media: “People just love to argue online.” (Says the person about to type a 300-word reply to a stranger.)
Breaking the Cycle: How to Accept Our Role in the Chaos
Once you accept that you’re part of the problem, life becomes weirdly liberating. Not in a self-loathing way, but in a hey-maybe-I-can-fix-this kind of way. Here’s how:
Pause Before Complaining – Before you blame "the traffic," ask: Am I contributing to this problem? Sometimes, the answer is yes. Other times, it’s still yes.
Take Responsibility in Small Ways – If everyone decided to drive just a little better, traffic wouldn’t be as bad. If everyone worked on their communication just a little more, relationships wouldn’t be as frustrating.
Embrace the Irony – Sometimes, the best thing to do is laugh at how absurd we are. Because let’s be honest—realizing we’ve been shouting at a problem we actively participate in is peak comedy.
Final Thoughts
Life would be a lot easier if all our problems were caused by other people. But reality is messier. We’re all stuck in traffic, but we’re also part of it. Instead of fighting against that fact, maybe we should just turn up the music, let someone merge, and acknowledge the irony. Because at the end of the day, if you’re complaining about a situation you’re actively contributing to… well, you’re just honking at yourself.
