HAPPINESS IS A NOW THING
- kimberleemccarthy
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
I came across a line recently that made me pause: “Happiness is a now thing. Don’t wait until later to be happy.” It’s a pattern I’ve noticed in myself—and many others.
When we’re searching for something—a relationship, a job, a house, even healing—we can unintentionally shift into a mindset of lack. We start focusing on what’s missing instead of what’s already here.
I saw this clearly when I started dating again. My intention was to find a long-term partner, but something shifted in my energy. I felt more “needy,” less grounded, and definitely less happy.
We tell ourselves “I’ll be happy when…”, but what if we flipped that?
Here are a few things that have helped me (and might help you too) come back to happiness in the now:
Awareness is the first step. Notice when your mind slips into future-based thinking—when your joy is tied to something outside of you.
Take inventory. What’s already good? What’s already working? Appreciation grounds us in what’s real, not what’s missing.
Ask the hard questions. Will getting this “thing” truly make you happy—or just temporarily satisfied? What feeling are you hoping it will bring?
Generate the feeling now. If you think a partner will make you feel loved, how can you create more love in your life today? If a new job will make you feel purposeful, where can you bring purpose into your current day?
Don’t wait to live. Joy isn’t a reward for hard work or arrival. It’s a muscle we build in the small, daily moments.
Take it from me—it’s not always easy to create happiness, but it’s so worth the effort!
And If you’re looking to dive deeper into happiness and pick up some science-backed tools, give this Rich Roll podcast episode a listen—it’s got some real gems.
🎧 Episode 919 – The Science of Happiness
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