The Mountain Is You

LEAN INTO THE LITTLE JOYS WHEN YOU FIND THEM
When we think of trying to “enjoy” life, it’s common for our minds to jump
to trying to achieve things that are huge, overwhelming highs. We think that
being happy is only what happens when we’re on vacation or just landed a
huge bonus.
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This, however, is actually the opposite of happiness, because it’s
conditional. True happiness is embracing the little joys in life: the sunrise

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on a warm summer morning, your cup of coffee, or an amazing book. It is
being grateful not only for when big things happen, but also for the small
satisfactions that you can find every day.
Most people severely overthink happiness. They assume their lives have to
be in perfect working order for them to experience real joy. This is not so.
Real joy is finding happiness where you are and how you are.
NURTURE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WHEN YOU HAVE
THEM
Regardless of whether or not you are introverted or ex-troverted, the quality
of your relationships determines the quality of your life experiences. Tons
of research backs this up: We become most like the people we spend time
with, and our happiness is directly correlated with not the quantity of
relationships we have, but the quality of each of them; being lonely is as
much of a risk to your health as smoking.24
However, what most people interpret this to mean is that they should just
make friends where they can find them and be close to their biological
family, even if they dislike them. That’s totally missing the point.
Happiness is not contingent upon you forcing relationships you don’t want
to be in. It is, however, contingent upon you building and
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fostering relationships with people you really like and who add value to
your life.
When you meet someone with whom you really have a connection, go out
of your way to make sure you see that person and keep your friendship
healthy.

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