Seeing a red traffic light used to drive me nuts, I’d let it bother me and change how I was feeling; sighing at best, and swearing under my breath at worst. 

Then I noticed my kids also get annoyed by them too like they were always in a rush. They were copying me and it needed to stop.

So I went on the hunt for a solution to the stress. I tried taking 5 deep breaths every time we saw a red light. It’s wanky but nicer than letting the cortisol rise.

It felt good, calming. I began to look for red lights. I was finding myself happy to get one. Within a week or so the kids started doing it… with eye rolls from my older child but still taking it as a win. 

Honestly, it’s a little game-changer and proof of how we can just tell ourselves a new story. A red light doesn’t mean stress. It has been reframed to mean a tiny bit of self-care in an otherwise busy day. 

I’ve since tried adding in a deep breath in other parts of my day like the kettle boiling, washing up, but it’s not working as well as this because I have to remember to do it. The red light is something exterior that’s ‘done to me’. 

Try it, let me know how you get on. x