Happiness Is a Habit: 5 Simple Shifts for More Joy at Home

A year and a half ago, we moved from a small town to the absolute countryside. City girl turned rural mama—it still makes me smile. The move felt right, deeply rooted in intuition, and even now, I know with full certainty that we are where we are meant to be.

But something unexpected happened.

We kept the house very simple. No decorations, not many personal touches—just what we needed, nothing more. It was peaceful, yes, but also a little empty. Especially the walls. Blank. Bare. Waiting.

And somehow, just recently, I felt this strong pull to personalize again. Not in a Pinterest-perfect way. But in a way that felt like home to me. And it started in the bedroom.

A Bedroom Makeover That Sparked Something Deeper

I found myself wondering: What do I want to see when I wake up in the morning? What energy do I want to bring into my space… and into my life?

Without overthinking it, I knew the answer: softness. Color. Feminine energy.
Pinks and lilacs. Slowness. Beauty. Flow.

So I created two custom posters. Nothing fancy, but deeply intentional.

The first one says:
“Where attention goes, energy flows.”

You’ve likely heard that phrase before. But this time, it landed differently.

The Realization That Hit Me Like a Wave

I started paying attention to my thoughts. And oh my goodness… the autopilot thoughts were not what I wanted to be living by:

“I’m tired.”
“This is too much.”
“Why is everything so hard right now?”
“The kids need me again. I can’t take a breath.”

Familiar?

These thoughts aren’t bad or wrong—they’re honest, real, part of motherhood. But when they’re all we feed ourselves mentally, they become the lens through which we live.

And if that’s where my attention goes, no wonder my energy was scattered, drained, and low. I don’t want to pour my precious energy into lack, overwhelm, and frustration.

I want it to go to:

• Laughing with my kids
• Building my beautiful business
• Connecting with soul-led mamas who are doing their best
• Creating a home that feels nourishing
• Living fully awake and alive

Thoughts → Attention → Energy → Life

I realized: If I want to feel better, I have to think better.
If I want to think better, I need reminders around me that anchor me in those intentions.

That’s why the poster matters. That’s why the colors matter. That’s why the environment I wake up to matters.

Because we are all in a constant state of remembering. Of returning. Of realigning.

The Second Poster: Happiness Is a Habit

This one hit me in the most beautiful way.

For a long time, I believed (subtly, unconsciously) that I’d be happier once…

• Once we moved.
• Once the kids slept better.
• Once I made more money.
• Once we figured out our routines.

But when all those things did happen—and I still felt stuck in a loop of heaviness—I realized something: Happiness isn’t a milestone. It’s a muscle. A habit. A way of thinking and being that must be chosen, practiced, and cultivated.

Even if it’s just one small moment at a time.

Choosing Happiness—Before Everything Is “Perfect”

I am happy we moved. I do love the countryside. I am grateful for this season.

But I wasn’t consistently feeling that happiness. I was still letting my thoughts slip back into the old grooves.

That’s when this practice became clear:
Instead of waiting for happiness, I’m choosing to create it.

And even more beautiful? My kids now see those posters too. They’re soaking in the messages daily, without needing to be “taught” them.

You Create the Energy You Live In

Decorating my bedroom wasn’t about aesthetics—it was about alignment.
It reminded me that our outer space reflects our inner world… and vice versa.

So today I want to leave you with this:

✨ Where is your attention going?
✨ What thoughts are you repeating daily—maybe without even noticing?
✨ What kind of energy do you want to grow in your life?
✨ And how can you visually remind yourself of that each day?

Sometimes all it takes is a few words on a wall to help you remember what matters most.

Because truly—where attention goes, joy grows.

From one Wildly Rooted Mama to another – let´s keep growing and glowing together!

Cathleen