For many people, a GPS in your car is a little bit like an information overload. Growing up, many GPS owners turned radios with a dial - now they have a map of their continent at their finger tips and they know exactly where their car is! The downside to this expanse of technology is that many people don't trust their GPS device right away. They'll still write down directions, even though they have a fully-loaded map in their car, waiting to tell them where to turn and when. So how do you let go and realize it's okay to depend on your GPS?
First, you'll want to accept that no technology is perfect. If you prefer a paper map, ask yourself if you've ever said something to the tune of "This map stinks! I can't find anything." You probably have said that in a moment of navigation frustration, right? If something as solid as paper can fail you, it does help to remember that GPS can have similar little failings. Depending on your GPS means understanding what these failings might be and how to overcome them.
For example, the maps downloaded to your GPS might not be up-to-date, and you may find yourself looking at a real-life road that doesn't exist in your GPS. What do you do? It's probably a good idea to stick with the GPS' original instructions.
If you have a portable GPS, you might also want to consider carrying it around with you, as GPSTrackingDevice.net notes. The more you use this GPS, the more you'll come to see that GPS devices can indeed be very accurate, and they're not only good navigation tools, they're great ones. It's just a matter of trusting the GPS, as well as your ability to compensate for the GPS if it ever does lead you astray. Believe me, it won't be very often.
Some might compare a GPS to having a calculator with you in math class. They might say that having a GPS is a great convenience, but it means that your own skills with atrophy due to lack of use. If you ever worry about this, simply ignore the GPS. Use your own sense of direction every once in a while in order to challenge your navigational abilities. That way, you can have the best of both worlds: you can both use the GPS and not worry about your skills going by the wayside.