**Old Happy:** “I’ll be happy when I get there.”

**New Happy:** “I am creating a happy life each and every day.”

It's so easy to imagine a good life as a destination: somewhere we arrive when we have finally eliminated our problems and struggles. Then, we think, I’ll experience perpetual joy. But there is no life where that is possible.

A meaningful, happy life will inevitably involve difficult experiences and emotions. You can’t work towards a cause that you care about without feeling stress; you can’t craft a fulfilling relationship without tending to your wounds; you can’t grow as a person without experiencing fear. It will always be an experience of wins and challenges; joys and pains; meetings and farewells; transfigurations and disintegrations. All of our experiences contribute to the mosaic that is a happy life.

Here are a few small ways to put this idea into practice.

- Write down what a good life means to you. The clearer the picture in your mind, the easier it will be to make decisions that align with it.

- Meet your difficult emotions and experiences with compassion. Remind yourself: it’s an inevitable part of being a human; it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.

- Every day, ask yourself: what’s one way I could experience a bit of joy today? Often, it’s the small moments that really matter most: a delicious meal, an evening walk, or a connection with a loved one.