Choose Happiness

Nicholas Urbaniak • February 13, 2025

When was the last time you felt disappointed? (Think for 10 seconds)

Maybe it was during a workout you just couldn’t finish, or after being passed over for a promotion you’d been counting on. Disappointment shows up for everyone, sooner or later. But what do you typically do when it hits? Shrug it off? Blame the circumstances or the people around you? Or maybe you grit your teeth and resolve to “do better next time.”

Those strategies can help you cope, but there’s another approach you might want to consider: choosing to be happy anyway.

I had this realization one night while reflecting on what I truly want out of life. Was it deeper connections, more meaningful work, or extra free time? None of these completely solved my restlessness or what I felt I needed. Then it struck me: maybe I could let go of the endless pressure to “fix” my situation and just give myself permission to be happy in spite of it.

When you realize you don’t have to tie your happiness to outcomes, and let the world dictate what you deserve, it can feel like a weight has been lifted. Disappointment doesn’t become the end of the road; it becomes just another experience which guides the next step forward. From that lighter, more open state of mind while you're happier, you can gain the clarity to decide your next move—whether it’s addressing the problem head-on, planning a spontaneous weekend trip, or simply stepping back to regroup and rest. Anyway you go, it will work out, but at least this time you might enjoy yourself a bit more.

The next time you find yourself at a crossroads or pondering something you need o work on, or just plain want to feel better about your life, remember you can take a deep breath, check in with how you feel, and decide to tap into a sense of happiness by deciding you deserve to feel happy despite circumstances—no matter what, cause who is stopping you anyway. It might not magically solve everything at once, but it can give you the freedom, courage, and energy to figure out that what truly matters is the journey you're on and how much you're enjoying it.

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The One Who Stayed

By Nicholas Urbaniak • June 14, 2025

There are days when nothing makes sense. You try. You show up. You give your heart, your time, your attention. And still — nothing sticks. Nothing moves. Nothing reflects back what you hoped. Instead of momentum, you get static. Instead of appreciation, silence. You pour into things, into people, into ideas… and somehow feel more empty than full. And slowly, something inside you starts to break. It’s not dramatic. It’s quiet. A quiet cracking of belief. Belief that the world will reward your effort. Belief that kindness comes back around. Belief that if you keep doing the right thing, something will click. But sometimes, it doesn’t. And you’re left there — not with a revelation, but with a weight. A tiredness that no nap or quote or breathwork can fix. And here’s the truth: You’ve been giving everything away hoping someone would give something back. But now, there’s nothing left to give. And no one’s giving back. So maybe it’s time to stop. Not forever. Not dramatically. Just… for you. Stop waiting. Stop bleeding for things that don’t hold you in return. Stop trying to earn peace from a world that profits off your unrest. This isn’t giving up. This is self-rescue. You don’t need to be more useful, more available, more inspiring. You just need to be yours again. And that starts with something simple, but life-altering: “I see you. I won’t leave you again.” Because maybe the person you’ve been waiting to show up for you — was always going to be you. The one who stays. The one who protects your peace. The one who finally chooses you, without apology.

Mind Over Matter

By Nicholas Urbaniak • June 13, 2025

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By Nicholas Urbaniak • June 5, 2025

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A lone figure steps toward a golden glow at the end of a stone passageway

The Compass of Struggle

By Nicholas Urbaniak • June 3, 2025

Struggle isn’t a detour—it’s a compass. This post shows how hardship clarifies priorities, reveals hidden support, and guides us toward deeper purpose, turning even the darkest passages into signposts for growth and authentic direction.

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Start Before You’re Ready

By Nicholas Urbaniak • May 31, 2025

Overwhelmed by your to-do list? This post explores how simply starting—before you feel ready—can create momentum, ease anxiety, and unlock the natural productivity your mind craves. Discover how action leads to flow and why the first step is often the hardest… but also the most powerful.