2026-01-06 09:00
You know, I was playing NBA 2K25 the other day, and something struck me. I never skip the in-game TV show segments. That’s rare. In most sports games, those bits are pure filler—awkward, low-budget, something to mash the ‘skip’ button through. But here, they’re fully animated, voiced, and actually compelling. The hosts have this fantastic blend of mirth and sharp analysis, debating things like ranking the league's historical dynasties. It’s not just background noise; it’s a genuine highlight, a small, consistent source of engagement and joy within the larger experience. It got me thinking about our daily lives. We often chase happiness and abundance like they’re grand, elusive trophies—a promotion, a big purchase, a life-altering trip. But what if, like those brilliantly executed halftime shows in 2K, the key isn’t in the monumental events, but in the simple, daily habits we integrate? The routines that, done consistently, create a baseline of joy that makes everything else feel more abundant. I’ve spent years researching positive psychology and coaching clients, and I’ve come to believe lasting fortune is built not in leaps, but in these small, repeatable steps.
Let’s talk about the first habit, and it’s a deceptively simple one: curating your input. Just as I choose not to skip the entertaining analysis in 2K25 because it adds value, we must be ruthless about what we allow into our mental space. I start my day not with a social media scroll, but with 10 minutes of reading something uplifting or educational. It sets a completely different tone. The data is staggering—a study from the University of Pennsylvania a few years back found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes a day significantly reduced levels of loneliness and depression. I aim for that. The second habit is intentional gratitude. I keep a jar, an actual physical jar, on my desk. Every evening, I write one small thing that went well or that I appreciated on a slip of paper and drop it in. It sounds quaint, but over a year, that’s 365 moments of acknowledged goodness. Your brain starts to scan for them proactively, training your focus toward abundance. The third is micro-connection. I’m not talking about deep, hours-long heart-to-hearts every day. I mean sending one genuine text to a friend, having a proper, phone-down conversation with the barista, or even just making eye contact and smiling at a stranger. These tiny acts of human connection release oxytocin and build a sense of belonging. I probably do this 3 to 5 times a day without even thinking about it now; it’s become reflexive.
Movement is non-negotiable, and that’s habit four. But forget “grinding” at the gym for two hours if that’s not your thing. For me, it’s a 22-minute brisk walk. That’s it. Sometimes I listen to a podcast, sometimes I just listen to the birds. The point is consistent, gentle motion. It clears my head, sparks creativity, and manages stress more effectively than any pill ever could. Habit five is what I call “single-tasking a pleasure.” We’re so used to multitasking that we dilute our joys. If I’m eating a fantastic meal, I’m just eating. If I’m watching that NBA 2K25 show, I’m not also checking emails. By fully immersing myself in one enjoyable activity, even for just 15 minutes, I amplify the satisfaction I get from it. The sixth habit is evening reflection. This isn’t a journaling marathon. I spend about 5 minutes before bed asking myself two questions: “What was one win today?” and “What’s one tiny thing I can improve tomorrow?” This creates narrative closure for the day and a gentle, forward-looking intention. It stops the endless mental churn.
Finally, habit seven is scheduled worry. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But it’s powerful. I give myself 10 minutes—say, at 4:30 PM—as my official “worry time.” If an anxious thought pops up at 10 AM, I mentally note it and tell myself, “I’ll deal with that at 4:30.” Most of the time, by 4:30, the issue has lost its urgency or I’ve subconsciously solved it. This habit alone has probably freed up 70 minutes of mental bandwidth for me each day, bandwidth I can redirect toward productive or joyful pursuits. Now, you might look at this list and think it’s basic. And you’re right. It is. The magic isn’t in complexity; it’s in the consistency. It’s in building your own personal “halftime show”—a set of reliable, engaging routines you actually look forward to that break up the game of life, provide insightful commentary, and bring a welcome blend of mirth and analysis to your day. I don’t execute all seven perfectly every single day. Some days, I might only solidly hit three or four. But that’s okay. The goal is progress, not perfection. The abundance comes from the compound interest of these small investments in your well-being. Just like those animated hosts in the video game make the entire experience richer, these habits build a foundational layer of joy that makes you more resilient, more open, and more attuned to the fortune that’s already around you. You start to notice more opportunities, feel more connected, and operate from a place of calm strength. That, in my experience and in the data I’ve seen, is how you truly unlock a happy fortune. It’s already on your roster; you just need to put it in the regular rotation.