Unlock Your Happy Fortune: 7 Proven Strategies to Attract Joy and Abundance Today

You know, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to build a happy and abundant life, and it often reminds me of something I love: diving into a great video game with multiple character classes. There’s a piece of writing I once read about the Vault Hunters in Borderlands that stuck with me. It said that while you can’t know how they all stack up until you’ve put in the hours, each one is fun because they feel powerful, can stand on their own, and make meaningful contributions to a team. Mastering their abilities is rewarding. I think that’s a perfect metaphor for building our own fortune. We all have different “character builds” in life, different innate abilities and starting points, but the joy comes from learning to use what we’ve got powerfully, on our own and with others, to create something rewarding. So, let’s talk about how to unlock your happy fortune. This isn’t about waiting for luck; it’s about active strategies. I’ve found, through trial and a fair bit of error, that these seven approaches can genuinely shift your trajectory. They’re not magic, but they are proven, at least in the messy laboratory of my own experience.

First, you have to define what “fortune” means for you, and I mean get brutally specific. “Abundance” is a vague, shimmering word. For me, it meant financial security enough to work on passion projects without panic, and “joy” was having three uninterrupted, device-free evenings a week. I wrote it down. I knew a guy who quantified his abundance as “an extra $1,200 a month in passive income” and his joy as “hiking 15 new trails a year.” See the difference? One is a foggy wish; the other is a target. Your version is yours alone. Once you have that, the next step is what I call “micro-alignment.” Every day, ask one tiny question: “Does this next action move me 1% closer to my definition?” It could be skipping a frivolous purchase to save for that passive income goal, or spending 20 minutes planning a hike instead of scrolling. This constant, gentle steering is far more effective than occasional grand gestures. It builds momentum you can actually feel.

Now, let’s talk about your environment. I used to think willpower was everything until I read a study—okay, I might fudge the exact number, but it was something like 78% of our daily choices are dictated by our environment, not conscious decision. So, I engineered mine. I wanted to read more, so I placed a book on my pillow every morning. I wanted less mindless social media, so I logged out on my laptop and deleted the apps from my phone’s home screen, burying them in a folder I named “Time Sinks.” It sounds silly, but that extra friction worked wonders. For abundance, this might mean setting up automatic transfers to a savings account the day you get paid, so the decision is made for you. You’re not fighting yourself; you’re setting up a playground where the easy choice is the right choice.

Here’s a big one, and it’s where that Borderlands wisdom really hits home: cultivate your unique skill set like it’s your character’s action skill. The text mentioned how rewarding it is to learn and master each Vault Hunter’s respective abilities. You have those too. Maybe you’re a fantastic listener, a quick learner, or have an eye for design. I’ve always been good at explaining complex things simply. For years, I didn’t value it. Then I started a small blog focusing on just that. It didn’t bring in money for a long time, but the joy of mastering and applying that innate ability was its own reward. Eventually, it led to consulting work. The fortune followed the joy of mastery, not the other way around. Don’t try to be a copy of someone else’s build. Figure out your cooldowns, your skill trees, and invest in them passionately.

Connection is non-negotiable, but it has to be meaningful. I used to confuse a full calendar with a full life. I’d estimate I spent about 60% of my social energy on interactions that left me drained. I made a rule: I would only say “yes” to things or people that felt like a “hell yes.” I started initiating one-on-one walks or coffee chats with people whose energy I admired, where we could actually talk about real things, not just gossip. This created a “team” around me, much like the Vault Hunters making meaningful contributions to a party. We supported each other’s goals, shared opportunities, and celebrated wins. This network became a massive source of both joy and practical abundance, opening doors I never could have alone.

Gratitude practice is everywhere, but most people do it wrong. Writing “I’m grateful for my health” in a journal every night becomes rote. I switched to a method I call “specific scarcity.” I ask, “What’s one thing I experienced today that I would desperately miss if it were gone?” Last Tuesday, it was the exact way the afternoon light came through my window and lit up the dust motes, making the whole room feel still and golden. It took 30 seconds. That visceral, tiny appreciation does something to your brain. It signals “enough.” And from a feeling of “enough,” you can operate from a place of generosity and creativity, not lack. You stop making desperate, scarcity-driven decisions that block fortune.

Finally, you must learn the rhythm of action and release. This was my hardest lesson. I’d hustle relentlessly toward a goal, burn out, collapse, feel guilty, and start again. Now, I work in focused, intense sprints—maybe 90 minutes of deep work on a project—followed by complete mental release. A walk, a few minutes of staring out the window, playing with my dog. It’s in those release periods that the best ideas come. It’s like the space between notes that makes the music. Forcing abundance is like trying to force a flower to bloom by pulling on the petals. You plant the seed (intention), you water it (consistent action), and then you have to trust the process and step back (release). The universe, or your subconscious, or whatever you want to call it, needs room to work.

So, there you have it. My seven strategies. They’re a framework, not a rigid checklist. Just like you wouldn’t play Amara the Siren the exact same way you’d play Zane the Operative, you have to adapt these to your own life’s build. The core truth, from that game insight to this life advice, is that power and reward come from embracing your unique toolkit and consistently, joyfully engaging with it. You don’t need to dissuade yourself from certain paths out of fear they’re wrong; if you’re learning and contributing, you’re on a good path. Start with one strategy that resonates. Get specific, tweak your environment, invest in a skill. The process itself becomes the source of joy. And from that place of engaged, powerful action, you truly begin to unlock your happy fortune. It’s already there, waiting in your daily choices. Now go play your character.