There's a reason you ought not to put your car in reverse while traveling down the road. You can ask someone more mechanically inclined than I to elaborate, but I'm pretty clear on the fact that it is bad for the car and might be a rather costly mistake. Instead, you're meant to slow down and come to a stop before shifting into the opposite direction.
I'm also aware that life decisions ought to be handled similarly. But feelings and reactions are often hard to control. At times, a sharp curve, slippery terrain, or a speed bump will have me foregoing all warnings and thrusting my heart and head into reverse with no regard for the damage I'm bound to do to myself and possibly others. I suppose this is a learned reflex that I've acquired during my journey in life. Having been burned, betrayed, tricked, etc. can definitely leave you determined to proceed with caution. But sometimes I admit that a not-so significant slight can send me reeling, and I will quickly assign meaning to the event or intentions surrounding it and have myself convinced in no time that ill will was intended or that what was recently status quo has now been revoked and everything is up fr grabs...that anything might happen next.
I'm trying to retrain my heart and head to give the benefit of the doubt a bit more, and jump to strong, bad conclusions a bit less. It's hard. You know - old dog, new tricks and all that. It's much easier when driving a car or parenting your children. I know exactly what to preach, it's the practice that doesn't always come easily.
