How to Be Happy-Go-Lucky (10 carefree tips)
Everyone is fretting about everything, all the time; the money is inflating, algorithms are changing and AI is shaking things up.
But not you and I. We’re off to the side, blissfully watching with a smiley grin and a laid-back gaze.
So welcome to my guide on how to be happy-go-lucky.
Let’s get to it.
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What Does Living Happy-Go-Lucky Mean? (and why should I?)
Living a laid-back life doesn’t mean not caring about anything, ever.
Of course some things warrant our attention and a few heavy roars. But most things, they can fall away.
So what does it mean to be happy-go-lucky?
Happy-go-lucky is a positive state of being, where one is unconcerned with what is and what will be.
It’s mixture of being carefree and optimistic at the same time.
Some Benefits of A Happy-Go-Lucky Personality
Attract more positivity in your life
Experience the effects of stress less
Process troubles differently
Become more optimistic
Support your mental health
Boost your self awareness
Improve your sense of control and will power
How to Be More Happy-Go-Lucky (10 tips)
Ready to become more happy-go-lucky?
Perfect. Here are my top moves.
1. Live In the Now
Since we can’t time travel, you’d think living in the present would be easier.
But we replay the past and stress about the future. Neither of these habits are helping our cause.
The solution? Live in the now.
In Eckhart Tolle’s book ‘The Power of Now’, he writes about this very topic (of course, much more eloquently than I).
One of his core arguments is this: stay aware of your present moment rather than getting lost in the anxiety of the past or future.
For me, this starts with awareness and catching myself when I slip into past or present consciousness.
Meditation helps. But patience and awareness are key.
So how about you – what does living in the now mean to you?
2. Stop Watching the News
For me, a lot of sad-go-bad-lucky feelings come from too much negativity and feeling a lack of control.
So a shift in focus helps here.
Whenever I found myself slipping away from carefreeness, I realized the news was a common denominator.
So I simply stopped watching it.
This can be hard to do – especially if your inner circle loves feasting on world affairs and political caviar.
But as you know, the news tends to highlight the worst of the worst. It totally misrepresents humanity and life in general.
So I stopped (except for major political events or special occasions and programs).
I’ll catch the major stuff, naturally. But I’m much happier without a constant stream of nightly negativity in my life.
3. Do More of What You Love
Making time to do more of the things you love is like, really important.
And of course, it’s a solid way to be more happy-go-lucky, which makes sense.
I mean, if we only make time for other people’s stuff, and ignore our own callings, it’s hard to stay positive and happy or feel totally fulfilled.
So what drives you? What makes your heart pump and your energy pop?
What’s your dream life look like?
Recommended: How to Do More of What Makes You Happy
4. Laugh
Laughter is food for the happy-go-lucky spirit.
So watch more funny movies or get lost down some rabbit holes of standup clips on YouTube. Jest with friends – or alone by yourself.
Whatever you need to do, just add some more humor into your daily life.
Because it works like a charm.
No joke.
5. Be An Observer
There’s this idea I learned through meditation and esoteric quantum topics from people like RJ Spina. It’s related to the self and our consciousness.
Basically, we are not our thoughts, body, emotions or experiences. We are simply the awareness of them.
I know, deep – but stay with me.
This perspective separates you from things like stress, so you can more easily sit back and just observe things (not become them). I recognize that I am not stress, and it is not me.
If I were the emotion, thought or feeling, I too would disappear as it does, eventually. But I don’t disappear. I remain.
So I like to study these states like a researcher – an observer. I say something like, “ah hah, it appears my body and my mind are stressed; but I am not”.
I suppose my consciousness sits above it all (whatever consciousness is).
As a result, I don’t suppress things – I understand and watch them like a curious explorer instead. In turn, I don’t give away my energy and attention either.
I relax. And I simply observe.
It takes some practice (and it’s not always perfect), but it helps me keep a happy-go-lucky attitude.
6. Look + Live Inward
Finding inner calmness can’t be reached by living externally.
Because external stuff is ephemeral and creates a separation dogma. Separation bolsters anxiety and doubt – definitely not our goal here.
Calmness is a key characteristic of the happy-go-lucky personality. And I find more tranquility by living inward vs. outward.
So this is a pretty important point. Here are some ways I practice living inward:
Avoid external approval
Practice regular self reflection
Shine a light on limiting beliefs or thought patterns
Practice and sharpen intuition
Do more expressive things (like art and music, for me)
Reach a state of creative flow more often and more consistently
7. Detach
Detachment is an awesome way to become more happy-go-lucky.
It’s tricky business though. After all, we love the things we love. We so strongly believe we need them.
But getting to a place of minimalism – essentialism – relaxes the egoic muscles and makes you feel lighter.
The result? You’re happier and less stressed. You’re more carefree.
This goes beyond material stuff too.
For example, separating your creativity from social metrics or outside approval. Likes are nice, but all you really need is you.
So let go (or be dragged).
8. Focus On Solutions (not problems)
I have a personal mantra: most problems have more than one solution.
I like to believe this is true (and in my experience so far, it has been). We tend to place all of our attention on the problem at hand and not the solution.
So a shift in focus is my go-to move. It turns a negative perspective into a positive one. It’s a happy-go-lucky approach, for sure.
As you get better at doing this, you’ll also realize how many problems are smaller than you realized or actually completely non-existent.
While everyone else is so concerned with how things are going wrong, you can offer objectivity and problem solving.
So, solutions – not problems.
9. Focus On the Positive (not the negative)
Let’s say you have a problem (from the tip above), but there’s really no immediate solution.
So what do you do?
The happy-go-lucky approach would be to stay positive and trust that everything works out, eventually.
Focusing on the positive isn’t delusional or unrealistic. It’s simply a choice and reflects the truth that all things eventually settle back down.
The art of staying calm and optimistic is an incredible soft skill to hone.
So if you’re looking to become more happy-go-lucky, but you tend to see things negatively, start with practicing more optimism.
It can be hard in the beginning – even annoying. But stick with it and rewire that brain.
10. Stack Your Cards
Let’s say you’re implementing all of the tips above and you’re absolutely crushing.
Nice.
But your environment – the places, people and things in your life – are constantly in direct opposition to your happy-go-lucky goals.
Well, it’s going to be hard to maintain things (unless you’re a zen master).
So let’s stack the cards in your favor. Here’s how I stack my deck:
My inner circle
The people in my life
My outer circle
The content I consume
My environment
The places I spend most of my time
Even changing just one of the three areas above to a more happy-go-lucky status will have a big impact.
So take a look at your cards, and choose a few that you can stack differently.
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