Why Not Me? Becoming the Happiest Person in the World


“Someone has to be the happiest person in the world—why not me?”

These eleven words can change your life. Not as a fleeting motivational quote, but as a serious proposal. A mindset shift so fundamental that it changes how you wake up, how you show up, and how you grow up—spiritually, emotionally, and even professionally.

In this chapter, we challenge the deeply embedded cultural narrative that happiness is a reward you earn only after accomplishing something “big enough.” You know the script: Once I get the promotion, then I’ll be happy. Once I’m married. Once I lose weight. Once I retire. Once I prove them wrong.

But what if we’ve had it backward all along?

Part I: The Inversion

The False Bargain

Modern society has seduced us into a dangerous bargain: sacrifice today’s peace for tomorrow’s promise. It whispers, Grind now, enjoy later. Delay happiness; earn it through hustle. Suffer for significance. And so we do. We wear busyness like a badge. We compare, compete, and clench our way through life, believing that once we “make it,” we’ll finally allow ourselves to relax and smile.

But what happens when we reach the top of that mountain and realize we’ve been climbing the wrong one?

Chris Williamson, host of the Modern Wisdom podcast, offers a sobering insight: “People often sacrifice happiness for success, thinking success will bring happiness. But it’s backwards.” He’s seen it time and again in his interviews with world-class performers—Olympians, billionaires, and bestselling authors. Many of them, after reaching dizzying heights, look around and wonder why it still feels hollow.

The pursuit of success at the expense of happiness is not only flawed—it’s unsustainable. And it's not necessary.

Part II: The Happiness-First Paradigm

Naval Ravikant and the Loop of Joy

Entrepreneur and philosopher Naval Ravikant offers a powerful counter-narrative: “The happier I am, the more I do things I’m good at. The more I do things I’m good at, the more successful I become. And the more successful I become, the happier I am.”

This is a loop, not a ladder. And in this loop, happiness is not a distraction from greatness—it’s the driver.

Naval insists that there’s no inherent trade-off between happiness and success. The happiest version of you isn’t less ambitious, less focused, or less disciplined. That version of you is energized, creative, and magnetically aligned with what matters most.

“The happy version of you won’t regret not being the unhappy, supposedly more successful, version.”

Let that sink in. Imagine looking back on your life and being grateful you didn’t choose the path of constant stress, overwork, and self-betrayal, all in the name of external validation. Imagine living in such deep alignment that your success felt like an expression of joy—not an escape from misery.

Part III: Happiness as a Decision

The Courage to Choose

The happiest people in the world are not the luckiest—they are often the most intentional. They don’t wait for circumstances to give them permission to smile. They wake up and choose happiness like a pair of shoes.

Choosing happiness doesn’t mean denying pain or pretending everything’s fine. It means choosing to become a student of joy, even in difficulty. It means saying:

  • I can be grateful and want more.

  • I can acknowledge hardship and hold on to hope.

  • I can pursue goals without letting them steal my peace.

This is not toxic positivity. It’s mature optimism.

“I’ll Figure It Out Along the Way”

You don’t have to know how to be the happiest person in the world before you begin. You just have to start. Say to yourself, “I choose to be happy—and I’ll figure it out along the way.” This attitude opens the door to growth, experimentation, and discovery.

You start by watching what makes your heart sing and doing more of it. You start by listening to your inner life—your rhythms, your desires, your triggers—and honoring that wisdom.

You start with you.

Part IV: The Science of Inner Happiness

Let’s back up this mindset with solid evidence. Positive psychology and neuroscience have exploded with research in the past two decades that confirms: happiness is not a passive outcome—it’s a trainable skill.

1. Gratitude Rewires the Brain

Dr. Robert Emmons, a leading researcher on gratitude, found that people who practice gratitude daily report better sleep, less depression, stronger immune systems, and greater life satisfaction.

In one study, participants who wrote down three things they were grateful for each day for just three weeks experienced a significant and lasting boost in overall happiness—even months later.

Try this nightly practice:

  • 3 things you’re grateful for

  • 1 win or moment of progress

  • 1 thing you’re looking forward to tomorrow

This anchors your mind in positivity, no matter the external chaos.

2. Kindness Creates a Feedback Loop

When you do something kind for someone else, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—chemicals responsible for pleasure, connection, and mood regulation.

The University of British Columbia found that people who performed daily acts of kindness experienced a significant reduction in anxiety over just four weeks.

The takeaway? Want to feel better? Make someone else’s day better.

3. Mindfulness Trains Emotional Stability

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to decrease activity in the brain’s default mode network—the part responsible for rumination and self-criticism. Studies from Harvard, Yale, and UCLA confirm that just 10-15 minutes of daily mindfulness practice enhances focus, improves emotion regulation, and reduces stress.

The happiest people are often the most present. They’ve trained themselves to slow down, to breathe, and to be here now—not trapped in “someday.”

4. Movement and Nature as Antidepressants

Regular physical movement, especially in natural settings, is one of the most potent antidepressants available. In a study published by Stanford University, a 90-minute walk in nature significantly reduced activity in the brain’s subgenual prefrontal cortex, which is associated with depressive thinking.

You don’t have to run marathons. Just move. Walk. Dance. Stretch. Breathe. Let your body become a source of joy.

Part V: Becoming the Happiest Person in the World (Why Not You?)

Let’s revisit the question: Someone has to be the happiest person in the world—why not you?

You might feel a twinge of discomfort even reading that. It might sound too audacious, too unrealistic, or even selfish. But consider this:

  • The world needs more joyful people.

  • Your family, your team, your community benefits when you thrive.

  • Happiness spreads faster than anxiety, cynicism, or fear.

Becoming the happiest person in the world isn’t about winning a contest. It’s about living in a way that reflects the deepest truths of who you are. It’s about wholeness over hustle, presence over performance.

And it begins with a single step.

Part VI: Daily Practices for Cultivating Deep Happiness

Here are five high-leverage habits that create compounding returns in joy and peace:

1. Identity Anchoring

Each morning, ask yourself:

“What would the happiest version of me do today?”

Act from that place. Let that version lead your choices, not the version obsessed with scarcity or pressure.

2. The 3-2-1 Rule

  • 3 wins from today

  • 2 moments of joy

  • 1 person you’re thankful for

Write it down or share it with someone. Repetition cements happiness into your mental architecture.

3. Joyful Movement

Pick one joyful movement you can do daily. It could be walking, stretching, dancing to your favorite song, or a short bike ride. Movement creates momentum, both in body and spirit.

4. Digital Detox Time

Create a space each day—maybe 30 minutes—where you disconnect from screens and reconnect with yourself, others, or nature. You’ll be amazed at how much mental clarity returns.

5. Radical Acceptance

Say this affirmation:

“This moment is enough. I am enough. From here, I can create anything.”

This doesn’t mean you won’t grow. It means you’re choosing to grow from love, not lack.

Closing Reflection: The Sacred Invitation

This isn’t about pretending life is perfect. It’s about trusting that joy can coexist with imperfection.

Being the happiest person in the world isn’t about your circumstances—it’s about your stance. It’s not about what happens to you—it’s about what you choose to cultivate inside of you.

And that choice?

That’s always available.

You’re invited to it today.
Why not you?

Journal Prompts:

  1. What limiting beliefs do I have about happiness?

  2. What would my days look like if I prioritized joy as a first step instead of a final reward?

  3. Who inspires me with their joy, and what can I learn from them?

  4. What activities help me lose track of time and feel most alive?

  5. What’s one commitment I can make this week to nurture my inner happiness?


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