Pieter Hintjens outlines 10 simple steps to make yourself and those around you happier. It takes no money or magic—just a shift in how you see the world, yourself, and others. As the 14th Dalai Lama said, “Happiness… comes from your own actions.” Step 1 encourages you to invest in your senses: eat well, take beautiful photos, play music that excites you, and walk in the rain to feel life fully.

Step 2 invites you to do things you’re bad at, challenging the brain and proving you can learn. Step 3 emphasizes enjoying other people—talk, smile, and be present. Step 4 highlights being part of bigger things, joining or starting communities, no matter how small the contribution.

Step 5 is about finishing projects, writing down accomplishments, and updating the list yearly to sustain confidence. Step 6 urges you to remove bad actors, reading “The Psychopath Code” to identify misery sources. Step 7 teaches grounding emotions: recognize anger, jealousy, fear, and replace them with happiness, cutting harmful habits like drinking.

Step 8 tells you to revalue your time, cutting commutes and boring meetings. Step 9 advises traveling light—sell or give away unneeded possessions. Finally, Step 10 encourages wanting nothing and accepting everything, letting you see beauty in every moment without disappointment.