Mamdani and the Future of American Jewry
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Discover five simple questions that rewire your perspective, quiet negative thoughts, and help you choose happiness—no matter what life throws your way.
The number one piece of advice uncovered by happiness researchers is simple: Don’t believe everything you think1.
Your brain is constantly taking in information and trying to interpret the world around you. Sometimes its interpretations are accurate but often they’re incomplete, distorted, or simply unhelpful. Many of your thoughts aren’t true, and some may be damaging.
Happier people regularly challenge their thoughts and perspectives. They know that happiness is shaped less by life’s circumstances and far more by the lens through which they see those circumstances. They believe happiness is a choice they make every day.
Here are five questions that happier people ask themselves.
Most of our daily thoughts lean negative. In an effort to protect you, your mind constantly scans for danger, asking: What can go wrong now? Happier people counter this instinct by asking: How can I see this in a different way?
This question disrupts the mind’s negativity bias and opens the door to new perspectives. It encourages you to look for a hidden opportunity or blessing within the challenge. Over time, you may even find yourself naturally shifting the question to: What can go right now?
One of the biggest struggles people face today is not knowing their life’s purpose. Happier people tend to discover purpose right where they are. They continually ask: How can I be useful?
This simple question grounds you in the next right step you can take. You don’t need to have your life figured out to make a difference. Whether dealing with obstacles or unexpected mishaps, happier people respond by asking: What can I do now? What do I have to offer that would be useful in this moment?
Asking yourself How can I be useful today? may uncover strengths and gifts you never realized you had.
Not every problem can be solved. Minor annoyances like traffic or bad weather—and major heartbreaks like the loss of someone you love—lie outside your control. Yet even in those moments, happier people ask: What can I do to make things better?
This question shifts your focus from the unchangeable to the actionable. Stuck in traffic? You might use the time to listen to a podcast or return overdue phone calls. Grieving a loved one? You might choose to honor their memory with a meaningful action or focus on gratitude for the time you shared.
No matter how stuck you feel, this question reveals that there is always some small way to improve your experience.
A classic happiness formula suggests dividing what you have by what you want. Many people try to improve the “have” side by acquiring more—more money, more things, more achievements. Yet it’s often far more effective to examine the bottom half of the equation: your wants.
Happier people pause to ask: Is this a want or a need?
We live in a world that relentlessly encourages us to treat every desire as a necessity. But you can resist that pressure by asking: Do I really need this?
If the answer is no, you can choose to add it to your want list or to remove something from that list instead. The more often you ask this question, the more you may find gratitude rising and unnecessary shopping falling away.
Indecision is a major barrier to happiness. Many people fear choosing “wrong,” so they delay endlessly, gathering more information in pursuit of the perfect option. But no matter how long your pros-and-cons list is, all decisions involve uncertainty. A perfect choice doesn’t exist.
Happier people give themselves a reasonable window to evaluate their options and then ask: Can I make a good enough decision?
A “good enough” decision is one that provides sufficient clarity to move forward. It doesn’t have to be the absolute best. In fact, people are far more likely to regret not deciding than making a choice and adjusting course later. This question helps you take action, experiment, and explore new possibilities with less fear.
Jewish wisdom teaches that it is a mitzvah, a commandment, to be happy.
Each of these questions invites you to shift your focus, challenge old patterns, and choose a perspective that leads to growth rather than frustration. Even small shifts in thinking can change the emotional tone of an entire day.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel happier. You simply need to pause, get curious, and ask yourself one better question at a time.
