Unlock Your Happy Fortune: 7 Proven Ways to Attract Joy and Abundance Daily
You know, I was playing Wuchang: Fallen Feathers the other night, and something really struck me about how the game designers approached level design - it reminded me so much of Bloodborne, which if you know my gaming preferences, is basically the highest compliment I can give. But what really got me thinking was how the game's approach to guiding players while giving them freedom perfectly mirrors what we need to do to attract more joy and abundance into our daily lives. Just like those perfectly placed shrines that always appear exactly when you need them in Wuchang, there are certain practices that can serve as checkpoints in our journey toward happiness. I've been experimenting with different approaches for years, and I've found seven methods that consistently work - not just in theory, but in the messy reality of everyday life.
Let me start with what I call "intentional morning routing." I used to jump out of bed and immediately check my phone, which basically meant starting my day with other people's emergencies and priorities. Now, I spend the first 17 minutes - yes, I actually timed this - doing three specific things: writing down three things I'm grateful for, visualizing how I want my day to go, and doing some light stretching. The gratitude part isn't just writing "I'm grateful for my family" - I get specific, like "I'm grateful for how my daughter laughed at breakfast yesterday" or "I'm grateful that project at work finally got approved." This specificity trains your brain to notice good things it would otherwise overlook. The visualization isn't some mystical manifesting exercise either - it's literally picturing myself handling challenges well and enjoying moments throughout the day. I've found this combination sets a completely different tone for everything that follows.
The second practice involves what I call "abundance spotting." Much like how Wuchang's level design makes the critical path apparent while still giving you freedom to explore, this is about training yourself to notice opportunities and resources that are already available to you. Every day, I challenge myself to find at least five examples of abundance in my life - and they can't be the same ones I used yesterday. Sometimes it's noticing that I have exactly the right amount of milk for my coffee, or that a friend texted me at the perfect moment, or that I discovered a podcast episode that addressed exactly what I was struggling with at work. This practice has completely shifted how I move through the world - instead of focusing on scarcity, I'm constantly scanning for evidence that the universe has my back. After doing this for 83 days straight, I can honestly say it's rewired how I perceive reality.
Then there's what I've dubbed "micro-connections." Research shows that even brief, positive social interactions boost happiness, but most of us go through our days in our own bubbles. I make it a point to have at least three genuine, if brief, interactions with people outside my immediate circle daily. This might be complimenting the barista's earrings, asking the grocery store cashier how their day is going and actually listening to the answer, or sending a quick message to an old colleague just to say I appreciated working with them. These tiny moments create ripples of positivity that often come back to me in unexpected ways - like when that same barista remembers my order on a rushed morning, or when the old colleague messages me months later with a job lead.
The fourth practice is probably the most challenging but also the most transformative - what I call "strategic subtraction." We're so conditioned to think abundance means adding more - more money, more possessions, more commitments. But I've found that joy often comes from intentionally removing what drains you. Every Sunday evening, I look at my upcoming week and identify one thing I can eliminate, delegate, or simplify. Last week, I realized I was dreading cooking dinner every night, so I invested in a meal kit service that costs about $12 more per week than grocery shopping but saves me probably three hours and countless mental energy. The week before, I noticed I was spending about 45 minutes daily scrolling through social media during lunch, so I deleted the apps from my phone and started reading actual books instead. This practice is like those moments in Wuchang where the game subtly guides you away from dead ends - you're removing obstacles to let joy flow more freely.
My fifth method involves what I've come to call "deliberate appreciation." This goes beyond gratitude lists to actively seeking out and savoring beautiful or interesting moments throughout the day. When I notice something that makes me pause - the way light filters through leaves, an interesting architectural detail on a building I pass daily, the perfect temperature of my morning coffee - I actually stop for 10-15 seconds and fully absorb it. I might take a mental photograph or describe it to myself in detail. This practice has turned ordinary walks into treasure hunts for beauty and has dramatically increased my daily joy quotient. I probably do this 8-12 times daily now without even thinking about it.
The sixth practice is "energy investment." Just like in Wuchang where you strategically use resources to upgrade your character, I think about my time and attention as currency to invest in future happiness. Every week, I allocate what I call "joy hours" - specific blocks of time dedicated solely to activities that recharge me. These aren't passive activities like watching TV, but things that make me lose track of time - for me, that's sketching, trying new recipes, or exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods. I protect these 4-5 hours weekly as fiercely as I protect important work meetings. What's fascinating is that these investments pay compound interest - the happiness from these activities spills over into the rest of my week.
Finally, there's what I call "closing ceremonies." Just as Wuchang's shrines provide perfect resting points between challenging sections, having intentional ways to end your day creates psychological closure and sets the stage for tomorrow. My evening routine includes reviewing three things that went well (different from my morning gratitude), acknowledging one lesson learned, and performing a simple physical ritual - for me, it's brewing a specific herbal tea while reflecting on the day. This practice has dramatically improved my sleep quality and helps me process the day's events rather than carrying them into the next morning.
What's fascinating is how these practices create their own kind of level design for happiness - they make the path to joy apparent while still leaving room for spontaneity and discovery, much like how Wuchang: Fallen Feathers guides players without making them feel restricted. The shrines in that game appear exactly when you need them, and similarly, these seven practices serve as checkpoints that help you navigate toward greater abundance. They're not about rigidly controlling every moment, but about creating structures that make joy more accessible. I've been following this approach for several months now, and while some days are definitely better than others, my overall happiness has increased by what feels like 60-70%. The beautiful part is that you can start with just one practice and build from there - what matters is beginning the journey toward unlocking your own happy fortune.
