top of page

5 Steps To Boost Your Happiness

  • May 8, 2024
  • 4 min read

Martina Iven is a life coach and communications strategist who wants to help you rebel against perfectionism and break free from the pressure of having to achieve and perform. With her own concept Happy Points, she inspires you to live your life based on what provides genuine bliss instead of what just looks good on paper.

Executive Contributor Martina Iven

Happiness is a universal desire, yet its path is often unclear. In this article, life coach Martina Iven from Happy Points will share her insights, acknowledging the personal journey each individual takes in their pursuit of happiness. She will provide clarity on the 5 essential steps that one must follow to create the right conditions in life for happiness to occur, understanding that this journey is unique for each person.


Three happy women standing next to each other

Throughout our lives, we are taught that achieving success will lead to happiness. We often associate happiness with our accomplishments, status, and the luxurious lifestyles we desire. We believe that the more we achieve, the higher we climb in society and the more prestige we will have, ultimately leading to a happier life.


The problem is that this belief doesn't just make us unhappy; it robs us of our joy and satisfaction in life. The relentless pursuit of perfection and the constant pressure to achieve can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and a perpetual feeling that something crucial is missing in life.


Redefining happiness

It is a genuine paradox that we must confront – the prevailing view of happiness needs to be challenged.


But how do we begin? How can we redefine happiness, fill in the gaps, and create a life that brings joy and vitality? How do we establish a life that fosters our well-being?


It is essential to understand that happiness is not a universal destination that applies to everyone. There is no specific location marked on the map where we can all go and live happily ever after. Each person derives happiness from different things and experiences joy in different ways.


Moreover, it is crucial to note that happiness is not a permanent state but rather a fleeting emotion that comes and goes. It’s about raising one's happiness level to the extent that negative emotions don't occur as often or last as long.


A 5-step roadmap

Furthermore, I believe that happiness is not something that we can simply pursue as a pre-existing state. Rather, it is an ability that we possess. This ability enables us to cultivate the right conditions in our lives that can give rise to our basic inner happiness. In light of this, I have developed the Happy Points method that outlines five key steps that one can take to achieve this state of being.


Step 1: Happy map

It's important to understand where you are to know where you're going. In this initial step, we will analyze your current life situation. We will identify the areas where you are doing well and the areas that present challenges. We will also focus on gratitude, as I believe being satisfied with what you have today is crucial to achieving satisfaction in the future.

 

Step 2: Happy points

Happy Points refer to the values, dreams, and abilities that one develops in life to experience inner happiness. By utilizing one's abilities and being guided by one's true values and aspirations, one can make conscious choices in one's daily life that lead to personal growth, prosperity, security, and overall happiness.


We provide customized exercises to uncover the real you, devoid of politically correct information or opinions from those around you. We aim to help you discover who you truly want to be, independent of external expectations and judgments.


Step 3: Happy plan

In a collaborative effort, we establish a clear objective for our partnership. We place significant emphasis on linking this objective to your Happy Points, which leads to long-term and sustainable change. A goal that is not aligned with your aspirations is less likely to endure over time or have a significant impact on your overall well-being.


Step 4: Happy mindset

You've probably heard it before, but why change a winning formula?


A resilient and optimistic mindset is key to navigating change. By training your mindset, you can more easily overcome obstacles and make the journey easier and more fun.


Step 5: Happy learning

One crucial aspect of the method is to start living as the person you aspire to be as soon as possible. It's alright if you haven't figured everything out yet because making mistakes and learning from them is part of the process. Once you have identified a genuine Happy Point, you can begin living by it and slowly transform your habits and behaviors over time.


Throughout every step of the process, I will be with you, but the journey towards change begins with you and no one else. If you truly desire to experience happiness, you must redefine the meaning of happiness and make the decision to learn how to create the right conditions in your life for happiness to occur.


Begin your transformational journey today by booking a free session with me. When you're ready, I'm here for you.


It’s time to take the next step!


Read more from Martina Iven

Martina Iven, Life Coach & Founder

Martina Iven is a life coach and communications strategist who wants to help you rebel against perfectionism and break free from the pressure of having to achieve and perform. With her own concept Happy Points, she inspires you to live your life based on what provides genuine bliss instead of what just looks good on paper. The concept is created out of her own transformational journey when she left her top job as a global PR manager with the wish to find her true self. As a coach she finally felt at home and is now on the mission to spread her message: Happy Points instead of merit points.

 
 

This article is published in collaboration with Brainz Magazine’s network of global experts, carefully selected to share real, valuable insights.

Article Image

How to Stop Seeking Happiness Outside of Yourself, and Become Self-Sourced

As a sensitive child growing up in an unstable household, I would constantly scan the room before I knew who to be. I would attune to those around me, my mother and my father, so I would know what I needed...

Article Image

You're Not AI and Stop Communicating Like One

There's a version of "professional communication" spreading through organizations right now that is clean, clear, well-structured and completely devoid of humanity. It arrives in your inbox on time. It has no typos.

Article Image

7 Non-Negotiable Shifts You Must Make in 2026 to Claim Aligned Abundance

You didn’t choose this way of living. You were conditioned into it, conditioned to believe your worth was something to be earned. The pedestal of performance, marked by gold stars, approval, and...

Article Image

The War Economy and How Conflict Became Big Business and Who Really Foots the Bill

We are accustomed to viewing global conflicts strictly through a moral or geopolitical lens as tragedies of diplomacy or clashes of ideology. Yet, behind the devastating images of shattered cities lies...

Article Image

Why Do Women Leaders Burn Out? And How to Lead Without Losing Yourself

Burnout isn’t just about working too hard. It’s about working in a way that goes against who you are. For high-achieving women, leadership often comes with a hidden tax: the emotional, physical, and energetic...

Article Image

The Number 1 Flirting Mistake Smart Women Make Without Realizing It

Have you ever walked away from a conversation and immediately started replaying it in your head? Wondering if you said the right thing, if you paused too long, or if you could have been more interesting?...

Your Relationship with Yourself Is the Key to Healthy Relationships

3 Ways That Leaders Can Nurture Conflict Resilience in Their Organization

Why Some People Don’t Answer Your Questions and Why That’s Not Resistance

Rethinking Generational Differences at Work and Why Individual Variation Matters More Than Labels

Discover How You Can Be Happier

How Media Affects the Nervous System and Why Regulation Matters More Than Willpower

The Illusion of Certainty and Why Midlife Clarity Often Hides Your Biggest Blind Spot

The Identity Shift and Why Becoming is the Real Key to Personal Growth

Listening to the Quiet Whispers Within

bottom of page