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Driving in the New Millennium

Looking for Signs of Happiness in a Hectic World

by: Rhonda Hull, Ph.D.

The beginning of the new millennium is upon us. The computers are still working, stocks are still bullish and life as we know it continues to accelerate and expand with massive speed. But are we happy? Even though we are enjoying the strongest economy ever, I still bump into a growing number of people who struggle with life and who lack a sense of passion, balance and enjoyment, both professionally and personally.

How did we get here? With hundreds of time saving conveniences designed to improve the quality of our lives, where is all the time we saved? Instead of spending it with our families and friends, or pursuing things that we love, with good intentions we cut each saved moment into fragments, demanding ourselves to do more in less time with greater quality and expanded expectations for production. We've created quite the juggling act. Unable to see the part we play in creating our frenzied world, we instead sleep less, complain more, blame others, worry excessively, kick the cat and react to small irritations as if they were life threatening. In doing so we have succeeded in making stress-related illnesses the leading cause of death!

We are driving ourselves crazy. Still we feel the need to run faster and faster, often not knowing where we are going. We totally miss seeing the simple wonders along the way thinking we don't have time. God forbid we experience an unexpected detour! However, if you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there, or you might just wind up someplace else. But where? Where are we going, why for, and what are we after?

At this harried speed with it's relentless pressures, peace and contentment remain illusive and they feel impossible to achieve. We keep running faster and trying harder what has already proven not to be effective strategies. We effort to hold back an avalanche with one hand feeling like we should be able to, and wonder why we are not happy. We forget the simple wisdom we know, afraid to let go of our old myth that faster and more is better. We still insist that slowing down will be counterproductive to our success.

Not the case. In fact, calming down and developing a greater awareness of our choices will do just the opposite. The truth is that by becoming more centered, we will become more productive, more compassionate, more confident, and better decision makers. We will become more effective in all areas of our lives. We will also be a heck of a lot nicer to be around! What employer would not want these people in their employ? What partner would not want this for the one they love? What person would not want this for themselves?

How do we break our old habits and trade in our old misbeliefs for a new model? How do we recognize the simple adjustments and options necessary to drive ourselves happy, instead of crazy?

The good news is that, if we just open out eyes and become a bit more aware, we are surrounded with easy lessons and accessible reminders for implementing simple yet significant strategies for being consistently happy, successful, and keeping your life on course. How, you ask, can that be?

We all are travelers. If not in our cars, we commute around our environment in one form or another; by foot, bus, bicycle, plane, or via public transportation. Everyday street signs become essential and important sages along our way. With new awareness they now become your reminders and invitations for living a balanced and happy life...and they are everywhere. The wisdom lies in how you see them. The possibilities and lessons are only limited by your imagination. Once you engage in the game of redefining the meaning of street signs, driving and maneuvering around your world will never be the same again and driving yourself happy will be easier. Wisdom and tools for meaningful living will be inescapable and steps toward happiness will, literally, be at every turn.

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