The breaking of habits or how to get there

I’m on my traveling adventures again. No matter how short the distance, it tends to turn into something. I routinely drive back and forth to work. Then there is the occasional trip to the store. And the once in a while trip to somewhere I haven’t been to locally. Anytime I venture out into unknown territory, I like to have some sort of feel of where I am going. I don’t need all the details, just a general sense of where I am and where I am heading.

The past couple of weeks I had to drive to another city to attend classes. Now, where I live, there are no distinct features of separateness in regards to all the small cities clustered around the big city. It’s confusing the hell out of me. Mentally, I always imagine empty stretches of land before arriving into a different city. Everything here is so packed together that there is no distinction when crossing city lines. There are some streets that have three different names, stretching from one end of several cities to the other end. You tell me where the hell I’m going.

Anyways, I look up directions on the computer anytime I have to go on mini trips like that. To get the general feel of where I am going. Luckily, I also have GPS on my phone to help direct me while on route. Now here’s the thing. I halfway know where I am going. You know, the familiarity of my surroundings. The routine ways I travel. Until I cross over into unknown territory and I have to rely on the GPS. Here’s what’s been throwing me off on my excursions.

I initiate the GPS when I leave my place. When I am still in well known surroundings. I tend to either choose the route I remember to be the easiest for myself, or I default into driving down the roads that I always use until I get to the unfamiliar territory. So the GPS spouts off directions to take at me, that I am not listening to because I am still comfortable enough to make independent choices based on my knowledge and my habits. My brain is getting its wavelengths scrambled as the GPS is telling me to take different turns than the ones I am choosing.

As this has happened every time I had to travel to this other city, I am intrigued with myself about when I choose to listen to what directions I will take. Surprising myself that I override the “superior” knowledge of the GPS to stick with routes that are most familiar to me, remaining in my comfort zone. Or even choosing routes I am not that familiar with, but that I remember to be either the shortest distance or least amount of traffic to get through. “Listening” to the GPS only when I am in complete unfamiliar territory. Until I begin to recognize my surroundings again. Meanwhile, the GPS could give me directions that could be more beneficial to me in regards to distance traveled, traffic to get through or even scenery to be admired.

So what keeps me “stuck” in my comfort zone? What do I base my choices on? Past experiences? The belief that I “know” better? This week when I will have to travel there again, I will allow myself to surrender to the “superior” knowledge of the GPS, and submit to experience something that is not simply based on my past knowledge or habits.