For most of my driving life I have not been driving with presence. I have found that I do not enjoy driving at all, yet when I was behind the wheel of a car for the first time I found it fun. When I was first learning to drive, I remember being totally in the moment, present with my driving and aware of everything that was going on around me. My focus was always with what I was doing and there was a simplicity and a humbling joy of feeling the gentle movements of driving the car.
I remember that when I first started driving I never had any need to seek a ‘thrill’ while driving. I never needed (or wanted) to drive excessively fast or in an unsafe way (the standard speed limit of 50km/h was fast enough for me, let alone driving at 100 or 110km/h!).
Yet, over time, I have found that my driving has changed and I have not felt quite the same joy – and that my driving ethic had changed from when I first started to drive. I have been pondering what is behind this feeling and I realised:
- I am often not present with myself when I drive. I am usually thinking about the time or about what I need to do when I get there, but very rarely am I in the moment thinking about what I am doing. Sometimes I have been so distracted or checked out that when I arrive to my destination I hardly recall turning on the car, much less braking, accelerating and all the other things we do when we drive. At these times I would feel like a driving zombie!
- When I am not present when driving, it is actually very dangerous; not just for me but for other drivers as well. I have found that when driving over the many bumps and abrasions in the road, I often never even notice them until I actually feel myself driving over them! I then feel a pulse of anxiousness through my body as I feel that I was not prepared for driving over bumps. At times, I have found my driving seemingly very reckless with no real care for myself or my car at all!
- When I drive, it is seems easy at times to go over 100km/h without noticing. Have I detached so much from myself that now I am unaware of how fast I am driving? I have found that when I am needing to get somewhere, I have a feeling of enjoyment from being reckless and driving for the ‘thrill’ of going fast. Why do I now need this thrill when I didn’t before?
- I often reach for the stereo and listen to something. This was typically music but it could have been the radio, too. I can feel when I do this sometimes I am so away from the moment that the radio or music is just another way to escape when I am feeling stress or anxiety.
What if I could drive differently and be more present as I drive, and therefore actually enjoy being with myself while I am driving?
I have found that driving with presence is actually extremely fun and very nourishing for me and my body. By being with me in the moment (as I did when I was 15 and learning to drive), I have found that:
- Time and space seem to expand. There is a humble feeling of not needing to get anywhere. I am learning that if I do need to get somewhere on time, I need to make time, as a support for myself and my driving.
- I am no longer a zombie on the road but instead a lovely man who is totally enjoying the ride. It is surprising how much fun it can be to be with my body as I did when I was 15 and learning to drive. Now I want to be present in all of my driving so I am completely aware and remember all of the journey. I am going to drive me there and not the zombie! There is also no feeling of anxiety for driving too fast or driving over bumps, but instead one of joy as I am with my body and my car when I approach a bump… I am ready for it.
- The space and connection with myself I am creating as I drive is one that totally supports me for my day and what is ahead. There is no need to escape any more, for what could prepare me more for my day than being in my joy when I arrive?
- The space in the car is so still when I drive with conscious presence that I can feel the gentleness of my breath throughout my body. It becomes an amazing time to remind me of the gentle tender man I am and that the support and joy I need is found in that space.
The seemingly simple power of being in the moment and driving with presence for me is one of the best tools to enjoy life again. I have been inspired to live this connection again by the students of Universal Medicine and the forever inspiring work of Serge Benhayon, who have highlighted to me from their lives what simple joy can come from just being.
By Joshua Campbell (21), Living in Christchurch, NZ
The Truth about Serge Benhayon 
It’s lovely to read that whilst driving conscious presence is also part of our every day living and that presence is essential when we are on the roads for others too. This too me is about responsibility and that responsibility is offered to another to be responsible too.
I understand the joy of driving, the appreciation of being taken from one place to another in the comfort of a supportive vehicle. If we appreciate this vehicle and take care of it like our own bodies, then that service is reciprocated.
Being present in everything we do is as vital to how we breathe. Without that breath, then nothing can exist.
The less we hold presence in what we do, the less we hold an authority and true decision making that comes from the body and its particles. Whilst we are with the body, and being present then it is much easier to know what is needed and to act upon it naturally so. And hence the trade off – a check out and step back and giving up our power OR a check in with a knowing of what is needed.
There is like another sense that kicks in when we are driving, and this sense kicks in the moment we check out or are thinking of other things. I too have experienced driving from one place to another and have no recollection of the drive nor how I got there, which in itself is rather disturbing! And when we have a habit of doing this, then it takes a while to break it and make ourselves come back to the moment and actually drive the car. You could call it a form of cruise control, but it is certainly not us driving the car when that happens. And I would say we would need to be careful as this way of being (or not being) would likely spill over into other areas of our life.
Henrietta, I totally agree. When we are not present and not conscious of this, it certainly can spoil and spill into other parts of our lives. Then life passes us by in the blink of an eye…
This blog has made me reflect on the fact that there are many activities that I have not stopped to enjoy simply because I have been too busy thinking of other things all the time! Driving is one example that Joshua has highlighted here, but I know that if I am rushed and thinking of other things, I don’t enjoy cooking, I don’t enjoy eating and nor do I enjoy taking a shower. Whereas all of these activities could expand in enjoyment and fun simply by allowing myself to be there in full. And really the list goes on for so much more fun to be had.
Joshua, this is a wonderful example and blog that is so simple in its reminder that when we are with ourselves in what we do there is so much more space to enjoy what is on offer.
“At these times I would feel like a driving zombie!” There are so many zombie drivers on the road and now they are introducing driverless cars – as if there aren’t enough already.
What if everyone was with themselves as they drove, ‘What if I could drive differently and be more present as I drive, and therefore actually enjoy being with myself while I am driving?’
This is great what you have shared Joshua, adding to what to what you have shared, because everything in the way we live is immense, so how we feel when we walk to the car and then put our seat belts on all contribute to how we drive then open arrival at our destination how we exit the car and place our seat belt back against the door pillar all contribute to us being present.
When we have reached a certain level of mastery and comfortable with what we do, it’s easy for us to go autopilot, disconnected from the simple joy and the purpose of just being in the moment, just like how many of us end up doing life.
Absolutely Fumiyo, we end up something like a virtual TV. program we walk turn it on and in doing so we are checked out and then turn it off in the same energy so nothing has changed. When we are being present in our lives activities as you have shared there is a simple Joy-full-ness being in the moment.
Yes, myself too and if we all drive this way then what would happen to the number and severity of road accidents?
I have been driving at the speed limit (as best I can) and present with what I am doing and the difference of how I feel when I arrive at my destination is huge. It makes very little difference to the time it takes but a huge difference to how my body feels.
As Joshua shared, when he is with himself when driving, ‘The space and connection with myself I am creating as I drive is one that totally supports me for my day and what is ahead.’
The quality we conduct our body in motion says much about us and our chosen ways.
Simple things can be so joyful when we do them with presence, without push and allow ourselves the space to do them.
Completely transformational Monica – I agree! Space to do things is like magic that brings out the fun and freedom.
Today with friends we all nominated things we were going to bring more focus to, bring more quality to. Among other things I mentioned driving. So driving home, usually about one and a quarter hours, I paid close attention to the quality of tenderness with myself and everything I came into contact with. I had such a beautiful drive home. I stopped off at some point to visit a very beautiful shop/garden/restaurant and found some awesome socks. The sat nav took me up lanes I had never ventured in before and although my journey was slightly longer than usual I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I also appreciated my car more than usual and the fact that the power is there if I need to overtake and it is safe to do so.
Feeling the quality of tenderness within yourself when driving is a beautiful way to be more present, ‘The space in the car is so still when I drive with conscious presence that I can feel the gentleness of my breath throughout my body. It becomes an amazing time to remind me of the gentle tender man I am and that the support and joy I need is found in that space.’
I never considered it but how we approach speed bumps is telling for how we are in wider life with ourselves and whether we give ourselves the time and space or rush over it. Driving can show us so much and being present as we drive is so much fun … and how did I forget that.
Great bullet points Joshua, that clearly highlight the different experience of driving with or without presence.
“I have found that driving with presence is actually extremely fun and very nourishing for me and my body”.
I agree – being present with what we are doing in the moment brings much joy, we get to enjoy ourselves in action. It is interesting how this joy seems to dissipate as we get used to the activity, instead of deepening. Is ‘getting used to’ a comfort that allows us an ‘off’ time to check out? I would have thought repeated experiences would mean the deepening of mastery…
Joshua the wisdom expressed here in your blog is a great reminder of the power of conscious presence in everything we do in life. I have a long drive this morning so I will enjoy being more consciously present and aware whilst I am driving.
This blog is a great reminder and inspiration to bring presence into all aspects of our lives, ‘The seemingly simple power of being in the moment and driving with presence for me is one of the best tools to enjoy life again. ‘
Observing how we drive is a great point of reflection where one is at and how we are going through life.
When we learn to drive (or learn to do anything for that matter) we are generally very attentive and present. But over time we can take for granted that we are mastered in what we are doing and don’t have to pay so much attention to detail as we ‘know’ the moves to drive or we know the moves of what we are doing. But this does not allow for the unexpected nor the imperfections that surrounds us in human life for no matter how mastered in anything we are there is always more to learn.
Yes, beautifully brought to a point, no matter how good we are at something there is always something to learn. With this understanding it becomes clear that there is never a ‘resting on one’s laurels’ but a forever humbleness to go deeper and learn more an this in itself brings equalness to us all.
So true Esther for when we rest on our laurels we cannot but stagnate.
‘I have found that driving with presence is actually extremely fun and very nourishing for me and my body’. Of course, this is another deeper form of nourishing our body and that is to be present in our bodies with everything we do, from showering and getting dressed to putting on the kettle to shutting the door and turning the key… every moment fully present is true nourishment for our bodies.
Does the way we drive our cars equate to how we are driving our lives,? if so what a great reflection is there on offer for us while driving.
When we become so used to doing something like driving a car there is a tendency to get comfortable via the familiarity of it and lose that connection with our body until something snaps us back like sliding on a snowy or icy road and having to focus intently on getting back on track. This is similar to other areas of our lives when through familiarity we become complacent and unwilling to step up into greater responsibility and growth.
Driving a car has always an implicit aspect: how I drive/conduct myself. The former is always a reflection of the latter. It says much about us.
Thank you Joshua, I haven’t read this in a little while but after not being very present in the car recently this has come to me again in perfect timing. As I was reading I could feel the anxiety I go into to get to my destination, it’s probably been there for some time however it definitely does not need to be there, and nor does it serve a purpose. I appreciated this line “….for what could prepare me more for my day than being in my joy when I arrive?” How true, it changes the emphasis we place on what we do and where we are going, to being connected to our being.
Conscious presence while driving a car is excellent practice as we steer our way through life.
Nailed it Mary in one sentence, how we drive our cars is a great reflection of how we move our bodies, either in full presence or not, ie being checked out.
To my experience many drivers on the road nowadays are not really present and maybe use the car as a means to check out from the reality of life which to me is clearly demonstrated by the the general notion that accidents which are happening on the roads are a insuperable and in that accept an abuse that does not belong to us. So too we allow our roads to fill themselves each day with traffic jams which not only are very costly for our economy but where we tend to check out from life even more.
It is great to drive a car being in full conscious presence what I am doing, and NOT going into thoughts. The car also feels like an extension of my body which is a pretty cool thing to experience.
Many people are guilty of not driving with the understanding that every move affects all others on the roads, as in we are one giant connection. An accident on a major road affects potentially thousands of people and changes the day for everyone (or perhaps even longer). Awareness that using the road system to drive means we are accepting responsibility for all around us is imperative.
This is a great example in seeing how our actions affect many, an accident has a knock on effect on hundreds or thousands of people, showing how we are never isolated islands, our actions always have impacts on those around us whether we see them or not.
Our lives become greatly enriched when we bring our awareness to and appreciate how each moment offers us the opportunity to deepen our connection to who we are in essence and bring this quality of presence to life. It is enriching in the sense that every moment holds equal value to the next, regardless of whatever we are doing, as such there are many great moments for us to bring our light to, beginning with this one now.
Perfect blog for me to read this morning as a little reminder to not check out while driving and I love how you describe that driving with presence is fun and very nourishing for your body, yes of course it is and so when we arrive at our destination, we are totally with ourselves prepared and ready for the meeting or the visit, whatever the occasion is.
Driving with presence allows us to develop a deeper relationship with our quality within and this naturally regenerates and expands our bodies to be more of who we truly are.
I love (and it makes sense) that you find driving with presence fun and nourishing for you and your body. ‘The space in the car is so still when I drive with conscious presence that I can feel the gentleness of my breath throughout my body.’
I do agree with you Joshua, it is so much more fun to drive in presence instead of way in my mind. The movement and speed of the car is actually a joy to feel as are the interactions with the other drivers on the road and not to see them as annoying people that stop me in my speeding or coming somewhere fast.
What I have also found being consciously present in your body – a quality is claimed i.e. things complete for the next to be there and there is a simple flow. For eg. rushing driving does not ever get you there quicker because the natural flow and order is not there with you and around you. You get all those lights and you are not with yourself when you arrive. When a projected outcome is placed on the flow it is a force you are now dealing with and not the opportunity of the next that is offered in rhythm of you and what is needed around you – the beauty offered by you and for you.
Anything we do being fully consciously present makes anything we do fully enjoyable. Tasks like ‘work’ becomes fun. Many people complain about the simple things or do not appreciate them. I have found in these situations like food shopping I absolutely adore and appreciate what I am bringing and feeling while I shop. It’s like your own flavour and dimension of your unique expression in whatever and that which you do. Everything becomes a Joy and expansion while your doing something – it’s not mundane but more like a celebration of how it is that you are moving and expressing while doing it .. ..
Driving is a time when it can be easy to go into auto-pilot, thanks you for reminding us of the importance of conscious presence at all times whilst driving.
Driving definitely sets a firm pattern of how we are with the rest of our life. What happens when we are in rage, angry, late and or checked out they all set us up for the rest of the day if we drive to work lets say.
Would the Joy and focus we walk to the car in possibly set us on a different path in the way we drive? So I concur Joshua, ‘The seemingly simple power of being in the moment and driving with presence for me is one of the best tools to enjoy life again.’ And it can all start before we start the car in our movements before we open the door.
I can feel the simple joy of just being in how you write Joshua, and it feels gorgeous. And I love the practical details you bring in, if we want to be on time we have to give ourselves time and not try and squash and compress ourselves now this is something for me to explore, thank you.
I like the description of you no longer being a zombie on the road. We certainly need more people who are present and responsible when they are driving. A friend of mine told me she overtook a driver on the motorway recently because his car was moving erratically. As she passed him she glanced into the car noticed he was eating his breakfast cereal, bowl in one hand, spoon in the other whilst trying to hold the steering wheel. Crazy.
Given the number of accidents on the roads, your lesson of presence when driving is clearly something all of us who drive need.
“What simple joy can come from just being” – so true, and how ironic it is that we often think we have to pack our lives with activities and actions, to feel the thrill, the excitement, the stimulation etc. to feel that our life is full, that we are full. We are enough already, and there’s no need to do, but just be for us to connect with that fullness.
I remember being focused when I first learnt to drive, there was so much to remember I didn’t dare not stay focused, and as the years have gone past, I have become confident and comfortable and that often leads to making mistakes, and that is when it gets really dangerous and accidents happen, staying focused is really part of our responsibility to ourselves and everyone else.
The way in which we drive is a wonderful reflection to how we are living eg, if I am living in anxiousness and nervous energy then my driving is going to be in anxiousness and nervous energy. Driving with connection to myself and going at a pace that supports me is so worth while. I may not get to the final destination in the fastest time although I have found that when my journey is easy and flowing I arrive well in advance and the joy with which I feel in my body is because I have chosen to allow plenty of time and not rush or be apprehensive about how the journey will go.
Firstly, WOW, your 21 when you wrote this and you have enough wisdom to know that above all else, you are a gentle man worth taking car of! Blown.away.
Secondly, what a timely reminder for me, as lately I’ve been catching myself driving somewhat recklessly (and by that, I don’t mean doing 150 in a 50 zone) and lacking real presence. I recently bought a new car and for the first time ever I’ve got cruise control. This has actually made a huge difference to how I drive, because setting and forgetting the speed means I’m forced to sit back and pay attention to the road without the urge to want to beat the traffic or go faster. I still have the urge to go faster, but the cruise control reminds me, that I don’t need to and that all I have to do is stay with myself and the car.
I love the way you highlight things with no holding back on the honesty and impact of the way we choose in life, Joshua.
When I was first introduced to the teachings on conscious presence by Serge Benhayon, I decided to bring a particular focus to the way I drive. This proved quite revelatory – as to the habitual patterns of nervous energy, rushing, distracting, etc, that I had become very accustomed to… very similar to what you’ve shared here. And so I made a commitment to myself to always begin a drive anywhere with the simplicity of being truly present (to the best of my ability) with my body – my hands on the wheel/controls, the way I use the accelerator in particular (what an indicator if one is in a state of nervous drive, however subtle or strong!), feeling my body in the driver’s seat and the way I bring attention to all that is around me on the road, the sound of the engine, and so on… I would intend to hold this focus for at least the first 7 minutes or so (if heading north for me, this would be 2 villages up the road) before listening perhaps to a recording or some music I felt to spend time with on my drive.
Boy was this revealing – as to how used to NOT being truly present with myself I was, and yet with time, things have quite remarkably changed. No perfection whatsoever, but the level of being present with myself is something that is deeply worth it – sitting in the car alone such a great point from which to really attune where one is truly ‘at’ and what pressures/expectations/nervous energy may have crept into the day…
Joshua what you present here around driving with connection and presence is very inspiring and a great reminder for us all. It is so obvious to me when I drive in ‘auto-pilot’ when I arrive at my destination I can feel totally different than if I choose to drive with presence the quality of my driving and the quality of my day flows with a simplicity and grace to it.
I love driving, always have and I link it to the freedom it gave and gives me. You actually say a lot about yourself with the way you drive, how fast you go, how you interact with other road users, your attitudes, , how you accelerate, how you park and the list goes on. Each one of these can be read to reflect something to you have not just your driver but how you are in life, even down to what you carry in the boot. It may sound to much but I’m not telling you you have to do it but saying it’s there if you want to have some fun and learn more about yourself. Driving isn’t just a tool to get from point A to point B, there is a science to it, a flow, that when you are in all the traffic light are green and when you’re not there’s another 10 sets of red traffic lights that you never knew existed.
I really enjoy driving and can palpably feel the difference between driving being with myself and driving being distracted. In truth driving in presence is expanding; as you have so beautifully described; whilst driving when distracted is dangerous to all. Thank you Joshua for the gentle reminder to always connect to oneself whilst driving.
I wonder if the key is in your first sentence – that you didn’t enjoy driving and you were never present – could there be a link between truly enjoying life and being present in our moment to moment activities? It makes sense, because how could we enjoy something that we are not fully aware is happening?
I like the simplicity that Joshua is offering here. The space to simply be where we are as we drive (or doing anything in life) is so very freeing. I can remember driving with this constant tension of being worried I would be late. When I did this there was no joy in my drive. Yet making changes similar to what is shared above opens the space to again breath and enjoy the process of life.
So greatly shared Joshua.There is so much more of ourselves to enjoy when we bring our presence to all that we do, be it driving or life in general. I agree, it is a simple yet powerful way to be, knowing that we are being our true selves through our living day and as such bringing Soulfullness to all that we do.
However, I still have work to do on several things mentioned on your list.
Thank you Joshua, this blog is just what I needed to read as I got booked for speeding on my way to work a couple of days ago. I surprised myself at the level of honesty I was capable of with myself and consequently I did not go into the old pattern of getting annoyed and feeling like a victim of bad luck. Consequently, I was very warm and friendly to the officer and he was super lovely in return and commented how this was the most awesome experience he had ever had whilst issuing someone with a ticket. Instead of this experience ‘wrecking’ my day as it would have in the past I was filled with appreciation and joy as I clocked just how much I have changed.
Driving with such connection and presence that you create a space where you can feel the gentleness of your breath throughout your body is just stunning and a deeply inspirational way to drive. This is a way of being we could all learn and grow from whether in a car or not.
So much of what you have identified here Joshua I can relate to. Thank you for the gentle reminder to, at all times, drive with presence.
Driving a car sounds symbolically as being in command of our body moving. I believe this is an interesting lead to explore in a comparative way.
I can so relate to this Joshua thank you, I have picked up all sorts of ‘driving patterns’ that became auto-pilot over the years. Conscious presence is something I find quite tricky while driving, especially long distances, and is still a work in progress…
I have to drive quite a bit for work and have slipped into an old pattern of listening to Radio 4 (a talking channel in the UK) the whole time. I have created my own little bubble and to be honest, it feel pretty awful to drive in this way. Thank you for the reflection Joshua. I needed a responsibility check.