There are two ways to pull into traffic:
Many people (Type 1) wait patiently until the traffic clears long enough for them to turn, join a lane, and get up to speed without interruption.
The rest (Type 2) wait just until there’s a long enough gap for them to pull out, and trust that at-speed cars behind them will either change lanes or slow down to avoid a collision.
If you’re Type 1, you prioritize safety over speed, but often have to wait a long time at a busy intersection for a spot. If you’re Type 2, you’re prioritizing speed, and will probably get there faster, but with a slightly increased risk of accident.
I think it makes sense to be Type 1 when you’re in a car–there’s a solid argument to be made that waiting an extra minute or two to merge is worthwhile to avoid a risk of a car crash.
But this mindset can overflow into other parts of our life, when the risk isn’t nearly as clear. I’m Type 1 in many situations where the benefit of Type 2 doesn’t come with a risk of a car crash – maybe stepping on someone’s toes, or looking foolish. We shouldn’t assess those risks the same as a car crash, and when we do, we slow down our movement towards our goals.