Why It’s So Hard to Be Happy

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Hey there,

Why is happiness so damn hard?

Humans didn’t become top dog on Earth because we were the strongest or fastest—plenty of animals could knock us out cold in a fair fight.

And it wasn’t tools — crows use tools. What set us apart was our superpower: abstract thought.

We could imagine tomorrow, plan for next week, and dream years into the future.That ability let us survive, thrive, and build civilizations.

It also came with a side effect, though: we’re almost always living ahead of ourselves.

We daydream, strategize, and trade today’s peace for tomorrow’s potential. We grind through jobs, degrees, and Monday mornings thinking, “One day, this will all pay off.”

And sometimes it does.

But often, we forget to hit pause and enjoy the life actually happening right now.

The brain we’re working with is still running on ancient software. It doesn’t care that you’ve got 5G, an espresso machine, and a meditation app.

It’s wired to hunt, hustle, and hoard—acorns, promotions, validation, you name it.

Problem is, we end up stuck on a treadmill of “just a little further.”

And that is exhausting.

The goal isn’t to kill ambition or ditch your dreams. It’s learning to bring some of that future joy into the present.

The not-so-secret weapon is gratitude.

I know—gratitude can often sound like fluff.

But real gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about learning to see what is fine, even when things aren’t perfect.

And yes, I resisted it too in the beginning. Especially during the COVID lockdown era, when sleep became a nightly wrestling match.

What helped me finally break the cycle was simple bedtime habit: jotting down three things—something that made me smile, something I was grateful for, and something I did well.

At first, it felt kind of silly. But over time, it grounded me.

The science backs it up: gratitude interrupts stress patterns and anchors you to the present.

It won’t make you less driven. It’ll just help you enjoy the ride while you’re driving.

Because if you’re never happy with what you have, what makes you think getting more will change that?

So try it tonight. Three quick notes before bed.

Give yourself a chance to notice the good that’s already here.

You might be surprised how close happiness really is.

Have a wonderful week, all.
Stay present, stay grateful - Scott (@motivatedscott).

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