Happiness is a State of Mind You Can Create

Happiness is a State of Mind You Can Create

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Let me ask you—are you moving toward your goals, or dealing with the same challenges over and over?

So many of us are caught in a loop. We’re not stuck because of lack of effort or opportunity… we’re stuck because of how we think. The real battle is almost always happening between your ears.

Sure, life throws real problems at us. But most of those problems are shaped—or magnified—by our perspective. That’s why this week, I want to focus on mindset hacks, because the daily battle with your mind is the battle you must win if you’re ever going to live the life you’re meant to live.

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Turning to Mentors in Tough Moments

Recently, I’ve faced some difficult situations. When that happens, I tend to revisit the voices that help ground me—and one of the top voices on that list is David Goggins.

If you don’t know Goggins, he’s a guy who’s redefined human endurance. His message is simple but profound: Most people live at just 40% of their potential. They give up too soon—in their relationships, in their business, in their personal growth. They hit a wall and assume they’ve reached the end, when really, they’ve just touched the edge of discomfort.

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What’s Holding You Back: The Governor in Your Mind

Goggins compares this to a car with a speed governor. The car could go faster, but the system is programmed to stop it. That’s what your mind does when you face difficulty—it limits you to “safe speeds.”

Your brain is wired to protect you. It wants you to stay comfortable, avoid risk, and retreat at the first sign of trouble. But here’s the truth: You are not your mind. You’re the driver.

The problem is, most people have handed over the steering wheel. They let their mind dictate the pace, the direction, and the outcome.

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Why You’re Stuck (and Why You Settle)

When you give your mind that kind of control, over time, you start to form habits—habits of backing down, settling, waiting, coasting.

Maybe you’ve found yourself waiting for things to get better. Waiting for a break. Waiting for something to change. But here’s the hard truth: you are the change.

So why do we quit? Usually, it’s not because we lack solutions. It’s because we lack belief that solutions are possible. We hit discomfort and assume it’s the end, instead of seeing it as the beginning of transformation.

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The 40% Rule and Acting in Spite of Your Mood

Here’s where Goggins' 40% rule ties into one of my own guiding principles—Prosperity Pillar #3: Act in spite of your mood.

No one wakes up excited to face pain. No one feels like having that tough conversation or staying late to build their side hustle. We’re human. But it’s in those exact moments—when you want to quit—that your brain starts to change. That’s when creativity kicks in. That’s when solutions begin to form.

You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to act. Discipline over emotion. Intention over instinct.

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Growth Lives Inside the Discomfort

Let’s stop waiting for things to get easier. Instead, lean into discomfort—because that’s where the breakthroughs happen.

Your greatest growth won’t come from the good days. It will come from pushing through when your mind is screaming for comfort. That’s the part of life most people avoid. And that’s exactly where your advantage lies.

Think about it. Every time you’ve overcome something tough—lost a few pounds, stuck with a hard goal, turned around a rough relationship—you’ve felt a deep sense of pride. Fulfillment isn’t about finishing. It’s about fighting. It’s about showing up again and again when it would be easier to coast.

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Living Inside the Battle (and Learning to Love It)

If you really want to live your best life, stop running from the battle with your mind and start engaging with it. Make it your training ground.

This doesn’t mean forcing yourself into burnout. It means understanding that discomfort is the path, not the obstacle. That daily challenge is where fulfillment is found—not in achieving massive goals, but in winning small victories that prove to your brain: you’re in control now.

And over time, those small wins rewire your thinking. Your confidence grows. Your capacity expands.

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You Already Have the Tools

Here’s the most freeing part of this entire conversation: You already have what you need.

You don’t need a new coach, a new tool, or some external validation. Your brain creates most of your problems, and it also holds the key to solving them.

It’s not about finding happiness after you hit your goals. It’s about realizing that fulfillment exists in the effort itself. It’s in pushing past resistance. It’s in doing one more rep. One more call. One more act of belief when your mood says “quit.”

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Final Thoughts: Live Beyond the 40%

Start to see your daily mental battles as opportunities—not burdens. That’s where your strength is built. That’s where your life begins to change.

Stop looking for success in comfort. Look for it in challenge. That’s where your growth lives. That’s where fulfillment is waiting.

Don’t quit on your relationships. Don’t give up on your business. Don’t tap out on your goals just because the work got hard.

Live beyond the 40%.
Take the wheel back.
Challenge yourself—daily.

And as David Goggins says… STAY HARD.