What a Traffic Jam Taught Me About My Tongue

(Too many thoughts block fluency. Let go. Allow space.)

So this happened one rainy evening in Mumbai.
I was stuck at a signal in Andheri — full chaos.
Autos honking, bikes squeezing through, cars stuck bumper to bumper, people shouting — total mess.
The kind of jam where even the air feels tight. No space to move. No rhythm. No peace.

And I sat there thinking… “Isn’t this exactly what happens inside my head when I hesitate in English?”

Hear me out.

You know that moment when you’re about to speak in English — but suddenly, ten things start happening in your mind?

“Is this the right grammar?”
“Will they laugh at my accent?”
“What if I forget a word midway?”
“Should I use ‘has’ or ‘have’?”
“I hope I don’t mess up…”

One by one, these thoughts start rushing in — just like bikes, autos, buses.
All trying to pass at once.
And what happens?
You freeze.
Your words get stuck.
Like a jammed road, your tongue just refuses to move.

Not because you don’t know English.
But because there’s no space left inside.

Too Many Thoughts = No Flow

We often think fluency is blocked because of lack of vocabulary or practice.
Yes, those things matter — but honestly, many times the real problem is overthinking.

Your mind becomes a traffic jam.
And your tongue — poor thing — is just waiting for some green signal.

The Day I Understood This…

I realised: fluency isn’t just about filling your mind.
It’s also about clearing it.
Just like traffic needs space to move — your words need mental space too.

You can’t drive smoothly in a jam.
And you can’t speak freely when your brain is full of doubt and pressure.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is — breathe, pause, and let go.

So How Do We Go From Hesitation to Flow?

Here’s what I tell my learners (and myself):

Stop judging every sentence. You’re not in an exam. You’re just talking.
Say it simply. Don’t chase fancy words. Say what you mean.
Give your mind space. One thought at a time. One sentence at a time.
Trust your tongue. It knows more than you think.

And most importantly…

Flow doesn’t come from fear. It comes from freedom.

When you stop crowding your mind with pressure, you’ll notice something magical —
your English flows more naturally.
Just like traffic on a clean, open road.

Final Thought:

Next time you feel stuck while speaking, don’t blame your English.
Just ask:
“Am I creating a traffic jam in my head?”

Then slow down. Breathe. Smile.
Give your tongue a little space to move.
And you’ll be surprised — how fluency quietly finds its way back.