Midlife Crisis – Choose to be Happy Instead

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

One day recently, I woke up feel less than joyfully connected to life. Nothing special caused this feeling. I just didn’t focus on anything in particular and so, old ‘stuff’ began to creep into my consciousness and I let myself feel bad. And, then, I went about doing my routine shopping, banking and other sundry tasks, driving in my ‘mid-life convertable’ – when suddenly, I heard the guy in the next car singing at the top of his lungs, “It’s a Wonderful World”. Hmm. It didn’t feel like that to me and I began to realize that that truck driver was an angel messenger to me that day.

A Guru in a Truck
I could never see myself driving a truck, but this guy surely seemed happy in his chosen livelihood. It gave me pause to consider the attitude I sometimes bring with me to my work. I have often heard it said that the “altitude” of our attitude has everything to do with our state of happiness and here was living proof.

By the time we reach midlife, we, baby boomers have at least wondered if happiness is the cause of a positive attitude or if a positive attitude is the cause of happiness. I suppose it doesn’t really matter as long as we are clear that, in either case, it is an inside job. That was the teaching I received that day: Happiness is a choice we make on a daily basis and it is not based on what’s going on “out there”–it’s based on what’s going on “in here”…within our minds and hearts.

The lesson my truck driving guru brought to me is simple but not always easy to practice if our tendency is to look to the world for our happiness: We bring happiness with us wherever we go. Happiness is not something that happens to us, it happens through us when we consciously choose to make space for it to do so.

Happiness Happens
For the truck driver, “Happiness Happens” wherever he goes, because he brings it with him. How about you? How much happiness will happen in your life today? In other words, how much happiness will you bring with you the next time you walk out the door of your home or, for that matter, in that door? Is your home a place of happiness for you? What are you telling yourself if it is not?

Sure, you may feel a few aches and pains as you get older, you may even be worried about money running out before your time does. We get in life what we focus upon. If we focus on what is missing, we’ll get more of that.

What are you Singing today?
Perhaps now would be the perfect time to pause and consider the fact that we have been given another precious day of life on this earth. Choose to make a space to let happiness happen through you this day. Who knows, you may even feel like singing “What A Wonderful World”!