How Small Daily Choices Can Increase Your Happiness
The Happiness Myth
Many people believe happiness is a destination—a place you arrive at once you’ve checked off all the right boxes in life. But that’s a misconception. Happiness isn’t a fixed state; it’s a journey, you can make many small daily choices to increase your happiness. At any moment, regardless of where you are in life, you can take steps—small or big—toward greater happiness.
How Our Beliefs Trap Us
From an early age, we’re often taught that our choices are limited. Society, family, and even our own past experiences can reinforce the idea that life is just something we have to endure. We may feel stuck in a system that dictates our options, leaving us believing we have little control over our own reality.
But that belief is false.
A powerful symbol of this illusion can be found in the Tarot deck. The Devil card depicts a half-man, half-goat figure with two humans chained beneath him. At first glance, it seems like he’s in control, holding them captive. But look closer: the chains around their necks are loose. They could remove them at any time—they just don’t realize it. They stay trapped not because of external control, but because they believe they are.
Like those figures, many of us live as though we’re bound by invisible chains—limiting beliefs that keep us stuck in unhappiness. But the truth is, we always have the power to remove those chains. Our happiness is not dictated by external forces. It’s a result of the thoughts we choose to believe and the actions we take daily.
A Personal Story: Escaping the Ditch
Many years ago, I worked for a large convenience store chain. Though my team and I were excellent at what we did, I struggled to go to work every day. Feelings of hopelessness made the days long and difficult. I dreaded waking up in the morning, knowing I had to face another day of the same routine. The weight of responsibility—providing for my wife and young daughter—felt crushing. The best way I could describe it was that I had dug a ditch so deep I couldn’t see a way out. The sides were too high, and every option I considered seemed impossible or doomed to fail.
One day, my wife at the time said, “Why don’t you call XYZ? I hear he’s now working for a new company in the area. Maybe they have some openings.”
Uncharacteristically, I made the phone call.
Three months later, after multiple interviews, I had a new career. My life was never the same after that. It felt as if someone had reached down and pulled me out of the ditch, propelling me skyward. But looking back, I realize something important: I had to take the first step. The moment I picked up the phone, I loosened my own chains.
Steps to Take Back Control
- Reframe Your Thoughts
As the saying goes, “We are what we think.” If you constantly tell yourself life is hard and unfair, that will be your reality. Instead, start shifting your internal dialogue. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, pause and ask: Is this thought helping me or holding me back? Then choose a better one. - Take One Small Action
Change doesn’t require a massive, life-altering decision. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as making a phone call, sending an email, or trying something new. If you feel stuck, ask yourself: What is one thing I can do today to create movement? Even the smallest action can break the illusion of limitation. - Practice Daily Happiness Habits
Happiness, like any skill, improves with practice. Find small things that bring you joy—taking a walk, listening to music, calling a friend—and incorporate them into your day. Over time, these moments add up, creating a more joyful mindset. - Reduce External Noise
We often reinforce our unhappiness by consuming negativity—news, social media, toxic conversations. Try reducing the external noise that feeds limiting beliefs. Instead, surround yourself with positivity, whether through books, podcasts, or uplifting people. - Lead by Example
If you want to inspire happiness in others—your children, partner, friends—you must embody it yourself. It’s easy to talk about positivity, but what truly impacts those around you is how you live. If you want to teach happiness, practice it daily.
Why Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination
One of the biggest myths about happiness is that it comes from reaching a goal—getting a better job, finding the right relationship, or making more money. But studies show that external achievements only bring temporary satisfaction. Long-term happiness is built through daily habits and mindset shifts, not external conditions.
This means happiness is always available to you, right now. It’s not something you “arrive” at—it’s something you practice every day
The Freedom to Choose
Happiness isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges. It’s about recognizing that, no matter what’s happening, you always have choices. You can choose your thoughts. You can choose your actions. And with each choice, you take a step closer to a happier, freer life.
So, what choice will you make today?
