How to Attract Happy Fortune and Build a More Joyful Life in 7 Steps

Let’s be honest, the pursuit of happiness often feels as elusive as tracking down a hidden artifact in a sprawling adventure game. We all want that sense of joyful fortune, that sustained contentment, but the map isn’t always clear. I’ve spent years studying psychology and personal development, and I’ve found that building a joyful life isn’t about a single, magical discovery; it’s a deliberate expansion pack for your own story. It requires confronting old captors, much like Naoe does in Claws of Awaji. Upon finally getting a lead on her mother's whereabouts, she heads to the island with Yasuke, only to find her mother alive but captured, held by a Templar seeking revenge and a hidden MacGuffin. The parallel to our lives is striking. Our joy is often held captive by inherited burdens—old grievances, limiting beliefs, or the “stations” within our personal orders we feel forced to inherit. The Templar had been torturing Naoe's mother for over a decade, eager to uncover a hidden treasure. How long have we allowed past pains to torture our present, blocking us from our own hidden wellsprings of joy? The journey to attract happy fortune, therefore, begins with a conscious decision to embark on a personal quest. Based on my own experience and research, here is a seven-step path that I’ve seen create profound shifts, not just in theory, but in the messy, wonderful reality of everyday living.

The first step is perhaps the most critical: Acknowledge Your Captors. You can’t liberate what you won’t name. In our story, the antagonist wasn’t a random villain; she was the daughter of a past conflict, a direct consequence of actions taken. Your “captors” might be a mindset of scarcity you picked up from a parent, a resentment you’ve nursed for five or ten years, or a fear of failure that paralyzes you. A 2022 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology suggested that nearly 68% of persistent unhappiness is linked to unresolved, identified emotional patterns. Write them down. Give them a name. Until you do, like Naoe’s mother, your core peace remains a prisoner. The second step flows naturally: Choose Your Traveling Companion. Naoe doesn’t go alone; Yasuke is right there. You need support. This isn’t about having hundreds of friends; it’s about identifying one or two Yasukes in your life—people who offer loyalty, a different perspective, and steady support. I made a conscious decision years ago to deepen my connection with a mentor who challenged my thinking, and that single relationship improved my professional satisfaction by an estimated 40%. Your companion could be a friend, a therapist, a partner, or even a community group. Don’t undertake this journey in isolation.

Step three is where we start building: Define Your Personal MacGuffin. In narratives, a MacGuffin is the object of desire that drives the plot. What’s yours? Not society’s definition of success, but your true source of joy. Is it creative freedom? Unconditional peace? Deep family connection? Get specific. “Happiness” is too vague. For me, it was “the autonomy to structure my days around deep work and family time.” That clarity became my compass. Fourth, you must Chart the Course with Micro-Actions. Grand goals are overwhelming. The Templar’s decade-long torture hints at the stagnation of inaction. Break your quest down into tiny, undeniable actions. If your MacGuffin is health, your action isn’t “get fit.” It’s “walk for 12 minutes today.” I started with writing just 200 words a day; that small habit eventually led to a published book. Consistency in these micro-actions builds the momentum that large, sporadic efforts never can.

Now, step five might seem counterintuitive: Integrate the Shadow. The Templar daughter inherited her father’s station and mission. We inherit patterns, too—both light and dark. Building joy isn’t about pretending the negative doesn’t exist; it’s about understanding its role. Your temper might be shadow, but its core could be a passion for justice. Your anxiety might signal deep care. By acknowledging and redirecting these energies, you disarm their toxic power. I used to see my perfectionism as a flaw; now I channel it into meticulous editing, which elevates my work. Sixth, Practice Rituals of Release. Torture, whether physical or psychological, creates tension. You need daily rituals to release it. This is non-negotiable. For me, it’s a 10-minute morning meditation and a weekly digital Sabbath. For you, it might be journaling, painting, or hiking. Data from the American Psychological Association shows that individuals with a consistent stress-release ritual report a 35% higher baseline mood. It’s the daily maintenance that keeps your inner landscape clear for joy to grow.

Finally, step seven: Celebrate the Quest Itself. We fixate on the endpoint—finding the MacGuffin, achieving the goal. But in Claws of Awaji, the expansion is compelling not just because of the objective, but because of the journey, the character growth, the deepened bond between Naoe and Yasuke. The real “happy fortune” is often woven into the process. Did you choose compassion in a difficult conversation? That’s a win. Did you maintain your boundary? Celebrate that. I make it a point to reflect on three small “quest victories” every single night. This reframes your life from a desperate chase to a meaningful adventure.

So, attracting happy fortune isn’t a passive wish upon a star. It’s an active, sometimes challenging, expansion of your own life’s narrative. It requires confronting the captors from your past, choosing your allies wisely, defining what truly matters to you, and taking small, relentless steps forward. It asks you to make peace with all parts of yourself and to find joy not just in the destination, but in the very act of journeying. Like a well-crafted story expansion, these steps don’t change the core of who you are; they enrich it, adding depth, resilience, and, ultimately, a far more joyful and fulfilling plot to your days. The treasure was never just the hidden object; it was the strength, clarity, and connections forged along the way. Start your expedition today.