Are your words keeping you stuck in traffic?

When you're technically moving, but... not.

A couple weeks ago, I went to Maine to celebrate my grandma’s 87th birthday…

It just so happened to be Labor Day weekend. A weekend that I, as a born-Mainer, know NEVER to go to/from Maine on.

But, there I was, the Sunday before Labor Day, on 95N, wind in my hair, cruising along, podcast queue filled to the brim with episodes I couldn’t wait to listen to! 🎙️

Travel time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. A new record for me. 😇

After a backyard tea party with my niece, a fun shopping excursion, and a successful SURPRISE for my grandma…

I’d accrued a raging headache. My original plan was to sleep at my parents, wake up at 4am, and sneak out before every single NJ, NH, CT, MA, NY, etc. license plate filled the highway with an array of “inspiring” state slogans.

But, with my head pounding, I decided I should drive back that night, get good sleep in my own bed, so I could be fresh as a daisy come Monday.

The perfect plan.

Until…. it was the not-so-perfect plan…

I left at 6:45pm. My road math had me in bed at 9:30pm, at the latest. I hugged everyone goodbye and hit the highway.

I was cruising along for the 1st hour. Crossed the bridge into NH (you know, the one that contains oh so much promise, “Just 1.25 hrs to go, Emily!”) and then, I saw what no one on 95 South ever wants to see. The Red Sea. No, my GPS didn’t go rogue and take me to Egypt…. it was a WALL of red brake lights and with brake lights THIS:

🚗🚙🚕 🚗🚙🚕🚗 🚙 🚕 🚗 🚙 🚕 🚗 🚙🚕 🚗🚙🚕 🚗🚙🚕

«insert eye-twitching here»

I’m talking, the kind of traffic that takes a girl from normal, functioning human with hope, positivity, and potential into existential crisis, and “Why was I eveennnnn born!?!??!?!”"

Two and a half hours, four podcasts, and three phone conversations later, I looked at the clock on my dash 10:13pm.

And, yes, my head was still throbbing. Admittedly, I did cry once. I was so tired and wanted my bed so very badly. Finally, after a tear-filled update to my husband, the traffic started to break… moving slowly at first… I didn’t get my hopes up, and then finally, as though it had never even happened, everyone was flying again.

I don’t think I’ve EVER wanted to see a sign for 101 West as much as that night.

Over the course of those 2.5 hours, I traveled a whopping 5.56 miles. I’d have been better off walking home! Technically, I was “moving” but it certainly didn’t feel that way.

Sometimes the words we choose have the same effect.

They keep us inching along instead of moving freely. They can be sneaky too! Wiggling their way into our everyday and sounding like:

“I actually have a thought…”

“Now, this is just something I threw together…”

“Sorry to bother you, but…”

“I’ll just be really quick…”

Tiny little words, like the Red Sea of brake lights, can drown out our impact and expertise. They can keep us from playing BIGGER, hold us back, and make us sound like even WE don’t believe we have anything worth saying…

Your words can slow you down or set you free.

Want to learn about the “little” words/phrases that can keep us stuck in proverbial traffic?

---

P.S. If you prefer reading over listening, you can check out the Extended Show Notes for this week’s episode HERE. I included a bunch of extra resources for you too, in case, like me… you’re itching to rev’ that engine to 80mph and play BIGGER!