The Ultimate Steps to Finding Happiness: Why It’s About the Journey, Not Happyland

Have you been playing hide-and-seek with happiness lately? Does happiness still elude you even if you are not living in a challenging eternal environment?

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

Maybe what you need to delve into then is your internal operating system. While you are at it, please stop comparing yourself with other people who seem so happy and have it all; you never actually know what that they may be coping with -- potentially greater struggles than your own. The difference could well be how they have managed to cope and deal with the negatives in their state of mind to focus on doing on what makes them happy.

Click here for The Art Of True Happiness: 5 Simple Ways To Live A Happy, Peaceful Life which is outlined as follows:

1.    Be clear about what you value.

2.    Make a list of things that align with those values.

3.    Look for things to do that will allow for connection or meaning.

4.    Cultivate the qualities you have identified as important.

5.    Be mindful when you're caught in a trap of negative thoughts.

There is more for your refreshing in the following article generated using ChatGPT to help you redefine happiness and undo your unhappiness.  

🌈 The Ultimate Steps to Finding Happiness

Because the Journey IS the Destination

“Happiness is not a place you arrive at, but a way you travel.”

— Anonymous (and probably smiling when they said it)

We’ve all dreamt of Happyland — that elusive place where everything finally makes sense, your inbox is empty, your jeans fit perfectly, and sunsets applaud your existence.

But here’s the twist: Happyland is a myth.

Real happiness doesn’t wait for you at the finish line — it happens on the way there.

So, ready to wise up, lighten up, and live it up?

Let’s unpack The Ultimate Steps to Finding Happiness, one joyful stride at a time.

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🌞 Step 1: Redefine Happiness — It’s a Verb, Not a Noun

Happiness isn’t something you get; it’s something you do. It’s active, not passive. Think of it as a daily verb: to happify.

💡 Try This Today:

Ask yourself every morning, “What can I do today that makes me feel alive — even for five minutes?”

Then go do it. Sing off-key. Dance like you own the kitchen. Text that friend who makes you laugh.

Pro tip: Happiness is rarely scheduled. It sneaks in through spontaneity.

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🧠 Step 2: Declutter the Mind — Delete Mental Junk Files

Your brain’s storage fills up fast — with worry tabs, regret folders, and endless “what-if” pop-ups.

Time for a mental spring-clean.

💡 The 3-Step Mind Reset:

1. Write down three things bugging you.

2. Cross out what you can’t control.

3. For what remains — take one small action today.

You’ll be amazed how much lighter your mind feels when it’s not running outdated emotional software.

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🌸 Step 3: Practice Daily Gratitude (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Gratitude doesn’t ignore pain — it reframes it.

It whispers, “Even here, something is good.”

💡 The 3×3 Formula:

• 3 things you’re thankful for.

• 3 people who matter.

• 3 good things that happened today.

Write them down, feel them, own them. Neuroscience shows it literally rewires your brain for joy.

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Aesop

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🏃 Step 4: Move the Body, Move the Mind

You can’t think your way to happiness if your body feels stagnant.

Movement floods your system with endorphins — the brain’s natural “smile hormones.”

💡 Energy Boost Hacks:

• Stretch for 2 minutes between tasks.

• Walk meetings instead of sit-downs.

• Blast your favourite song and dance like a dork.

Momentum breeds motivation — and happiness loves momentum.

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🌍 Step 5: Learn the Art of Micro-Adventures

Adventure doesn’t require airfare — only curiosity.

Novelty sparks dopamine, your “feel-good explorer” chemical.

💡 Micro-Adventure Ideas:

• Take a new route home.

• Order the weirdest thing on the menu.

• Go tech-free for one evening and rediscover analog life.

Each tiny detour keeps your soul awake — and your happiness fresh.

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🌬️ Step 6: Build Your Circle of Oxygen

Some people fill your lungs with joy. Others, well... drain your air supply.

Choose wisely whom you breathe around.

💡 Do a Joy Audit:

Make two lists:

• People who energize you.

• People who exhaust you.

Spend more time with the first group. Limit the second (with grace, not guilt).

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn

Choose your five like your happiness depends on it — because it does.

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🌱 Step 7: Fall in Love with Becoming

You are not a finished product; you’re a beautiful work-in-progress.

When you stop chasing perfection and start embracing progress, happiness stops being a goal and becomes your companion.

💡 Reflect Weekly:

Ask, “What have I learned, improved, or overcome lately?”

Every small evolution deserves celebration. Growth is gratitude in motion.

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🌤️ The Paradigm Shift: Happiness Is a Compass, Not a Destination

When you stop asking, “Am I there yet?” and start asking, “Am I growing, loving, and learning?”, you find joy even in the detours.

Because happiness isn’t about having everything — it’s about appreciating the everything you have.

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they make the best of everything they have.” — Unknown

So go ahead: roll down the metaphorical window, turn up your life’s playlist, and enjoy the breeze.

You’re not heading to Happyland — you’re already on Happy Road. 🌻

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✨ Takeaway Box — Your Daily Happiness Mini-Checklist

✅ Do one small thing that excites you.

✅ Declutter one thought that drains you.

✅ Move your body for at least 10 minutes.

✅ Thank three people or things.

✅ Smile — even if for no reason.

Do this daily, and happiness will stop being something you seek… and start being something you embody.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Snippets of Singapore and Singaporeans (25 October 2025)

Here are some refreshing wares brought about by a collaboration between Starbucks Singapore and WHENIWASFOUR called "Heartland Harmony: Sip, Share & Celebrate Moments that Matter".

The blurb on the label reads, "WHENIWASFOUR is a Singaporean design studio and label. Their designs draw inspiration from the ordinary, transforming everyday moments into a playground for creativity.

WHENIWASFOUR captures the essence of Singaporeans who cherish a balanced lifestyle filled with simple happiness and enjoyment.

This story focuses on the spirit of community, amidst celebrations and everyday interactions. Whether it is uncles playing a game of chess or the adorable Starbucks🅡Bearista connecting with a kopi uncle, it captures the warmth of Singapore's multicultural heartlands, emphasizing unity and togetherness."

 

Click here to visit WHENIWASFOUR online shop.

For your further refreshing, here are some clips on happenings in Singapore and Singaporeans.

Click here for They Told Us Not to Drive Into Singapore… But We Did It Anyway (F1 Grand Prix).

Click here for These Singaporean Bikers After 45 Countries: "Let's Rekindle Our Kampung Spirit" | Dear Singapore.

Click here for Race Highlights | 2025 Singapore Grand Prix.

Click here for Everything You Didn't Know About Woodlands | Singapore Hour.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Short Story: Much Ado About Breakfast

The following is a ChatGPT-generated short story for your refreshing anytime of the day. 

Image credits: ChatGPT 

Every Saturday morning without fail, Adeline and her parents would take their usual spot at Ah Seng Coffeeshop, the kind of old-school place where the ceiling fans hum louder than the traffic outside and the kaya toast is still spread by hand.

They were a noisy bunch — the kind that made the next table chuckle just by overhearing them. Her father, Uncle Raymond, had his half-boiled eggs mastered to an art; her mother, Auntie May, sipped her kopi C with the regal grace of a coffee connoisseur; and Adeline, ever the modern millennial, scrolled her phone between bites of toast.

It was all routine — until they noticed him.

A man, about fifty, looking like he had jogged off a midlife crisis and come out the other side rather well. Always in neatly pressed shirts, a wristwatch that caught the morning sun, and an easy calm about him. He’d sit two tables away, always alone, always with the same breakfast: kaya toast, kopi-O, two eggs — just like them.

But more than once, Adeline caught him glancing her way. Not the creepy kind, but… the curious kind.

“Mummy,” she whispered one morning, stirring her egg with exaggerated nonchalance. “That uncle keep looking at me again.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow, half amused. “Aiyoh, maybe he thinks you look like his niece lah.”

Her father, ever the joker, leaned in. “Or maybe he’s thinking to upgrade to a younger model!”

“Mum! Dad!” Adeline rolled her eyes, though she was laughing too.

“Eh, can lah,” her father teased. “Nowadays age gap no problem one. Maybe he’s rich, you marry him, can retire your old man early!”

“Please,” Adeline said, pretending to gag. “He’s, what, fifty? That’s like dating a secondary school principal.”

“Don’t underestimate uncles,” her mother chimed in, tapping her spoon on the saucer. “Uncles got stability, maturity, CPF, and no more drama.”

“But also backache, cholesterol, and early bedtime,” Adeline fired back. “I want someone who can go for late-night movies, not someone who falls asleep after Channel 8 News.”

Their laughter filled the coffeeshop, even Ah Seng behind the counter cracked a grin.

Weeks passed, and the mysterious uncle kept showing up. Always the same glance, the same quiet smile if their eyes met. Then one Saturday, he finally approached their table, holding his cup of kopi like a peace offering.

“Excuse me,” he said politely. “Sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I just wanted to ask — are you by any chance Adeline Tan?”

Adeline blinked. “Uh… yes?”

He smiled wider. “I thought so. I’m Mr. Lim. My son — Caleb — is studying in Melbourne. He told me to look out for you. You were his group mate during his internship, right?”

“Oh! Caleb Lim?” Adeline’s face lit up. “Yes! We worked together last year!”

Her parents exchanged looks, and Adeline suddenly realised what had just happened.

Mr. Lim chuckled. “He keeps telling me, ‘Pa, if you see Adeline, say hello for me.’ But every time I see you here, I don’t want to be abrupt. Later you think I’m some weird uncle.”

Her father nearly choked on his kopi. “We did think that, actually!”

Her mother burst out laughing. “We even discussed whether you were trying to hit on our daughter!”

Mr. Lim laughed too, shaking his head. “Aiyo, no lah. I already married for twenty-five years. My wife would hit me if she hears that.”

They all laughed till their sides hurt.

And that’s how, over kaya toast and eggs, Adeline learned that sometimes life’s funniest misunderstandings start with a glance and end with a good story.

Two months later, when Caleb flew home from Melbourne, the Tans and the Lims all met again — same coffeeshop, same table, same laughter.

This time, though, it was Caleb who kept stealing glances.

And Adeline? She pretended not to notice… but her parents definitely did.

Snippets of Singapore and Singaporeans (19 October 2025)

When you think of Ferrero Rocher, you would most likely envisage a pyramid-stacked or box of chocolate-cum-hazelnut round nuggets wrapped elegantly and individually with golden aluminium foil.

With innovation, creativity and marketing genius, yet another winner -- Ferrero Rocher Origins, has been created and voted as one of the "Product of the Year" 2025 by Singapore consumers.

"Tradition is like a bow. The more we stretch the bowstring, the farther we can throw the arrows of modernity and innovation." – Giovanni Ferrero, 2018.

Click here for the full list of winners of Product of the Year 2025 as voted by Singapore consumers.

For your further refreshing, here are some articles and clips on life in Singapore and Singaporeans.

Click here for The potter of Bedok who started his dream studio at an HDB void deck.

Click here for How Artists Turned Pearl's Hill Terrace Into Singapore's Coolest Spot | Singapore Hour.

Click here for The opera-singing 'TikTok uncle' whose videos are viewed by millions including Laufey and Paris Hilton.

Click here for Sentosa: Singapore’s Most Luxurious ‘Neighbourhood'? | Singapore Hour.

Click here for This 76-Year-Old Grandpa Does Calisthenics Better Than You.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Do You Struggle With Procrastination?

If you are wandering why you are distracted from focusing on the needful things that you need to get done but keep delaying yourself from doing them, the following ChatGPT-generated article on the link between dopamine and procrastination would offer you some insights and remedies that you could hopefully use to overcome procrastination.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

The link between dopamine and procrastination is deep, biological, and psychological. Let’s unpack it clearly:

🧠 1. Dopamine: The “motivation molecule”

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that drives our brain’s reward and motivation system. It doesn’t just make us feel good — it gives us the anticipation of feeling good.

It fuels desire, focus, and goal-directed behavior.

Every time we anticipate a reward (checking our phone, eating, achieving a task), our brain releases dopamine.

So, dopamine is not about the pleasure of the reward itself, but about the expectation of it — the urge that pushes us to act.

⚖️ 2. Procrastination: The avoidance of discomfort

Procrastination isn’t really laziness. It’s our brain avoiding short-term discomfort or stress (like tackling a complex or boring task) in favor of something that gives immediate dopamine (scrolling social media, watching videos, snacking, etc.).

In short:

The brain chooses the path that offers higher immediate dopamine with less resistance.

🧩 3. How dopamine imbalance feeds procrastination

When our brain gets used to quick dopamine hits (from constant notifications, entertainment, etc.), it becomes less sensitive to low-dopamine tasks — like writing a report, studying, or exercising.

The brain then craves instant rewards.

Low-stimulation tasks feel dull, heavy, or even painful.

So we avoid them, telling ourselves we’ll “do it later.”

That’s procrastination in biochemical form.

🔄 4. Breaking the cycle: Resetting dopamine and motivation

To overcome procrastination, you don’t need more willpower — you need to rebalance dopamine.

Here’s how:

Reduce instant dopamine hits: limit phone use, social media, and multitasking.

Create small wins: break big tasks into small steps — each success gives a natural dopamine release.

Delay gratification: train your brain to find reward in effort, not escape.

Pair dull tasks with small pleasures (e.g., music, coffee).

Regular exercise and sleep — both naturally regulate dopamine.

💡 In essence

Dopamine determines what we want to do, not what we should do.

When we learn to make our goals themselves rewarding — rather than chasing quick dopamine fixes — procrastination naturally weakens.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Simple Bicycles, Singapore

If you are living in Singapore and thinking of looking for a preloved branded bike, please feel free to check out Simple Bicycles for a good bargain at their outlet located at the following address: 37 Kallang Pudding Rd, Blk B , 02-03 Tong Lee Building, Singapore 349315.

Their Instagram link is @simpleridesimplelife and you can also find them on Carousell.

Take Lift 7 at Blk B to the 2nd floor

Main entrance at 02-03

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

How To Solve Any Problem

Problems are meant to be solved. 

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities - brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." -- John W. Gardner

Oftentimes, a problem is actually an opportunity for you to solve and generate benefits from it. For example, solar-powered atmospheric water generators have been invented to provide clean drinking water to communities living in arid conditions without any proper water supply system.

Click here for Turning air into H20: How her innovative Majik machine gets clean drinking water to those in need.

A quick way to fix the problem you faced is to find someone who has the necessary expertise. For painful tooth or gums issue, you consult your dentist for the necessary treatment. If you struggle with your income tax filing, you look for a trusty tax accountant. To achieve a breakthrough in your dream of pursuing a singing career, you engage a voice coach for mentoring. But, they come at a price. If you can afford it, then well and good.

Alternatively, you could do-it-yourself (DIY) albeit slower and take a longer time. Practically though, it is not applicable for all problems such as scaling or drilling your own teeth.

For those problems that you could address on your own, then put in the time and effort to learn and grow in your knowledge, understanding and know-how. As you develop your mental faculty you would be in a good standing to tackle the problems that challenges you such as stress, not knowing the purpose of your life, relationship and finances.

Here are some resources and quotable quotes gleaned from the internet for your refreshing. 

Click here for This season isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. 

Click here for How to Overcome Stress | A Lesson from Professor Christopher | Wisdom Tales by Pooja.

Click here for I’m on a mission… are you?

Click here for Thinking Big Changes Everything | Motivational Story.

Click here for The Beauty of Patience - A Powerful Story. 

"You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory." -- J. Donald Walters

 

"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were." -- John F. Kennedy

"It's very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny." -- Albert Ellis

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems." -- Mahatma Gandhi

"Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face." -- Ronald Reagan

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Snippets of Singapore and Singaporeans (4 October 2025)

The iconic People's Park Complex in the heart of Singapore's Chinatown has been refreshed with a new coat of white and red paints.

People's Park Complex

Click here for URA completes structural study on People’s Park Complex ahead of anticipated conservation.

This was how it looked like before the paint job.

Click here for More than 50 MASSAGE PARLOURS in This Shopping Mall?! 🙌 新加坡最多按摩店的商场 [People’s Park Complex].

For your further refreshing, here are some articles and clips on life in Singapore and Singaporeans.

Click here for Billy Koh bridges cities through music | Find Me A Singaporean :The World's My Stage 稀游记之世界我的舞台 E8.

Click here for Dr Chua Jia Long breaks world record, conquers Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 23 Days.

Click here for Why Singapore Built A 150m-Deep Oil Cave | Singapore Hour.

Click here for Excessive screen time – our eyes are bearing the greatest brunt and the long-term damage is worrying.

Click here for Truth About Living in Singapore for 6 Years as a Japanese.

Click here for The Italian Who Brought The World’s Oldest Pizzeria To Singapore | Singapore Hour.

Click here for 24 hours with a Wood Fire Butcher Chef: Butcher's Block.

Click here for Not for sale: He manages UOB’s 2,800 artworks.

Click here for Why This Neighbourhood Is A Gentleman’s Paradise | Singapore Hour.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

King Grouper Fish Soup

Generally, good fish soup in Singapore is easy to find in just about any hawker centre. 

The usual sliced fish used for the soup are either batang (Spanish Mackerel; a sea fish) or toman (Giant Snakehead; a freshwater fish). You could find many such stalls with their loyal following of repeat customers. To my knowledge, competition is friendly.

So far so good. Wait till you try grouper (from same family as Sea Bass; an ocean fish), if not already done so, at, say, King Grouper Fish Soup.

With more outlets now, you do not have to travel all the way to Changi Village to enjoy grouper at King Grouper Fish Soup. The outlet featured here is located in Food Junction at NEX mall.

Get ready for a memorable fish feast

The grouper fish slices are super fresh, smooth in texture, tasty and thick-cut but so tender that they do not feel chunky at all. Meatballs are added to 'beef-up' the flavour. Unless you are sharing your soup or have a huge appetite, the small-size order would be more than adequate to satisfy your penchant for really fresh fish.

For the  standard fare, go for grouper. If you are giving yourself a treat, try the premium red grouper.

Teochew style sliced grouper fish

Super fresh sliced fish

Full steamed ahead and your meal is ready promptly

Besides pairing your fish soup with rice or noodles, there are are also other sides available such as fried fish roe (best kept secret addition, imho) and fish maw.

Grouper fish head with added fish maw

Click here for ULTIMATE fish soup showdown! | Food Finders Singapore S7E8.

As per general advisory, please consume all food in moderation.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Be Kind To People

This is a gentle reminder to be kind to another person. 

May your life be like a fountain of kindness.

As it is, life is already tough. Be generous to offer a cup of refreshing kindness that conveys your human touch to make people you meet feel a little better because you are considerate and show that you care.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop

You can be kind with the words that you speak. Top on the list is to keep anger at bay. Anticipate and be prepared not to over-react to any unexpected event or worst-case scenario in life and hold your horses so that you do not unleash those poison darts from your mouth on other people (and yourself). Words spoken are liked spilt milk which could not be retracted. Berating another person harms both yourself and the victim(s) of your verbal abuse.

"Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people." -- Dennis Prager

You can also show kindness with empathy. As you are not in the other person's shoes, you do not know what that annoying or agitating person in front of you may be going through-- their current circumstances, struggles and issues. People are not uptight or constrained for no reason. And, on a fair day, people wants to live a happy life and not cause trouble to other people.

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again." -- Og Mandino

If you are in a position to help, your willingness to go the first mile or even an extra mile would go the distance to alleviate another person's predicament and/or plight.

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." --Saint Basil 

When you show kindness, you create a cycle of blessing and ripple effect to enrich your community and contribute to making our world a better place.

"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver."   -- Barbara De Angelis

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." -- Scott Adams 

Sign up for the Kindness Revolution today. There is no registration and subscription fees. All it takes is your willingness to go for it. 

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Click here for Ripple (Award Winning)- Kindness and good deeds will come back to you.

Click here for The Kindness Song | Official Lyric Video | Songs for School.

Click here for Bon Jovi - Have A Nice Day.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.