How a Happiness Habit Can Lift Your Perspective
- Whitney Hopler
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Recently, I visited the World Happiness Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. One of their exhibits points out: “At the end of the day, it is all about how we as individuals perceive our lives.” That line struck me. So much of our daily experience depends not only on what happens to us, but also on how we choose to see it. Building small “happiness habits” in our lives can lift our perspective in ways that lead us to lasting joy and wonder.
Life gets busy, especially in September, when new routines begin. Stress can creep into your life, narrowing your perspective. That’s where a happiness habit can help. By choosing one activity that brings you happiness and doing it regularly, you can create space to breathe, recharge, and reset your outlook. Philippians 4:8 advises: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” A happiness habit directs your mind to what is lovely and praiseworthy, and in doing so, it helps you notice God at work in your life.
This month, I’m building a happiness habit of singing somehow, every day and night. I’ve long enjoyed singing. Growing up, I sang in school choirs. In college and beyond, I sang on church worship teams. But I no longer have a formal singing activity as part of my schedule. I miss singing regularly, so I’m going to start integrating singing into my life in other ways. Sometimes I already sing my prayers, but I want to do so regularly. The devotional “Sing to Him” describes the beauty of singing our prayers, and the devotional “God Sings Love Songs Over Us” describes the wonderful reality that God sings over us! I also want to build a habit of singing around my house and in my car as I’m driving.
What is one activity that makes you feel happy when you remember to fit it into your busy schedule?
Of course, happiness and joy are not the same. Happiness is tied to circumstances, such as walking in the sunshine, laughing with a friend, or playing with a pet. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper. It comes from your relationship with Jesus and is not shaken by challenging circumstances. Nehemiah 8:10 points out that: “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” You can experience joy anytime and anywhere you connect to God’s constant presence with you. Psalm 16:11 says to God: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” This highlights how the ultimate source of joy is connecting with God’s presence.
Here’s a powerful well-being dynamic: Happiness can open doors to joy and wonder for you. When you feel happy, your perspective changes so you’re more likely to look outward, notice your blessings, and respond by paying closer attention to God. This shift in perspective is key. When your mind is focused on the good, it literally rewires your brain. This creates a positive feedback loop. The more you look for what’s good, the more you find it. Happiness makes you more receptive to seeing the blessings that are already there. You might find yourself smiling at a stranger, feeling a rush of gratitude for the beautiful fall leaves, or noticing a specific answer to prayer. These experiences of wonder act like a bridge, connecting the simple happiness of your daily life to the deep well of joy found in God’s presence.
How to Build a Happiness Habit that Leads You to Joy and Wonder
Habits are easier to form when they fit naturally into your daily routines. Here are a few simple steps:
Choose one activity. Pick something that usually makes you happy, such as listening to uplifting music or taking a short walk outside.
Connect it to something you already do. For example, if you make tea or coffee every morning, pair your habit with that practice by listening to uplifting music while you sip your drink, or by drinking it while taking a short walk outside.
Start small. It’s better to do something for five minutes every day than to try for an hour once a week and give up.
Commit to a month. Challenge yourself to keep this habit through September. By then, it may feel natural.
Notice the shift. At the end of the week, pause and reflect: Did you enjoy your life more as a result of adding this new habit to it?
On some especially stressful days, even a happiness habit might feel like a burden. If you’re dealing with a crisis, or you just don’t have the energy to practice your happiness habit on some days, that’s okay. The key isn’t perfection, but persistence. You don’t need to try to force a feeling of happiness. Just make the space for it in your life, as often as you can.
So, as this new season begins, I invite you to pick one activity that brings you happiness. Commit to making it a habit through the month of September. Let it become a practice that refreshes your perspective. Along the way, look for how God uses that habit to open your eyes to the joy and wonder he wants you to experience.
What’s one activity you’ll do today to invite a little more happiness into your life?
Learn more about experiencing God’s wonder in Wake Up to Wonder (order the paperback or the e-book) and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year (order the paperback or the e-book).
Blessings,
Whitney