The secret to a happy life is to not think too much about the life you’re living. The lightning looks exciting. However, it isn’t something that you want to see all the time, whereas the beautiful day is always appreciated. Please enjoy Ben’s story.
Ben’s story.
Ben had always been a thinker. From a young age, he had a mind that never seemed to rest. Every decision, big or small, was analysed, dissected, and considered from every possible angle. His friends used to joke that he could overthink a glass of water, and truth be told, they weren’t far off. Ben worried about his career, relationships, and even the way he walked down the street—constantly wondering if he was doing it all wrong.
In his twenties, Ben’s overthinking became more than just a quirk. It started to affect his health. He struggled with insomnia, often lying awake at night, replaying conversations and decisions from the day. Anxiety was a constant companion, gnawing at him until he felt paralysed by the weight of his thoughts.
One day, after yet another sleepless night, Ben found himself sitting in a small café on the outskirts of town. It was a place he rarely visited, seeking refuge from the bustle of his usual haunts. He sat by the window, nursing a cup of coffee, when he overheard an elderly man at the next table talking to the waitress.
The old man was chuckling, his voice full of warmth and wisdom. “You know, the secret to a happy life is to not think too much about the life you’re living,” he said, a twinkle in his eye. The waitress smiled and nodded, but Ben was struck by the simplicity of the statement.
Ben mulled over the old man’s words for days. He tried to ignore them at first, dismissing them as just another piece of advice in a world full of it. But something about that idea clung to him, gently nagging at the back of his mind. What if the man was right? What if happiness wasn’t about finding all the answers but about simply living the questions.
Determined to try a different approach, Ben started small. Instead of analysing every choice, he began to trust his instincts. He stopped obsessing over what others thought of him and instead focused on enjoying their company. He didn’t plan out every minute of his day but allowed himself to go with the flow.
The change wasn’t immediate, but slowly, Ben began to feel lighter. The constant knot of anxiety in his chest loosened. He slept better, laughed more, and found joy in the little things—things he would have overlooked before in his quest to “get it right.”
One day, as Ben was walking through the park, he noticed how the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow on everything it touched. He realised, in that moment, that he wasn’t thinking about anything at all. He was simply being—living the life in front of him without questioning it without dissecting it. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly at peace.
Years passed, and Ben became known among his friends as someone who was easygoing, happy, and content. They often asked him how he managed to stay so calm and positive, especially when life got tough.
He would smile, remembering the words of the old man in the café. “The secret,” he would say, “is to not think too much about the life you’re living. Just live it.”
And so Ben did. He embraced the present, letting go of the endless questions and doubts. And in doing so, he found the happiness that had eluded him for so long.
