You know, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it really means to “unlock your happy fortune.” It sounds like one of those lofty, abstract self-help goals, doesn’t it? Something you might read on a motivational poster and then immediately forget. But what if I told you it’s a lot more like learning to play a new character in a favorite video game? Stick with me here. I was recently reading some commentary about the new Borderlands game, and a particular insight struck a chord. The reviewer noted that while it takes time to truly know if all the Vault Hunters are equally balanced, for once, they didn’t feel the need to steer new players away from any option. Why? Because “each Vault Hunter is fun to play because they all feel powerful and can stand on their own or make meaningful contributions to a team, and it feels rewarding to learn and master each of their respective abilities.” That, right there, is a perfect metaphor for building a joyful and abundant life. You are the Vault Hunter of your own existence, and your skills, your mindset, your daily actions—those are your unique ability trees. The goal isn’t to pick the “correct” or “meta” path to happiness that someone else dictates. It’s to find the build that feels powerful and rewarding for you, to stand on your own while also contributing to your “team”—your community, your family, your friends. So, let’s ditch the vague affirmations. Here are five practical, down-to-earth steps, drawn from that same principle of playful mastery, to help you attract more joy and abundance starting today.

First, you have to run a quick audit on your current “skill loadout.” We all have default settings—habits of thought and action we’ve leveled up without even realizing it. For me, it was a critical inner voice that I’d invested way too many skill points into. It was my go-to ability, but it was draining my health bar, not filling it. Abundance, whether emotional or material, struggles to flow into a system that’s already full of static and self-criticism. So, take one day—just 24 hours—and consciously note every time you engage in a limiting thought. “I can’t afford that,” “I’m not good at this,” “They’re so much luckier than me.” Jot them down in your phone’s notes app. Don’t judge yourself for having them; just be the objective observer. By the end of the day, you’ll have a clear list of the mental abilities you’re currently relying on. I did this last month and counted 37 distinct negative or limiting self-statements before lunch. It was a shocking, precise number that forced me to see the pattern. This isn’t about positive thinking; it’s about data collection. You can’t change a build you don’t understand.

Next, deliberately respec one small, concrete habit. In gaming, respeccing means reallocating your skill points to try a new strategy. You don’t overhaul your entire character at once; you tweak one skill tree and test it. Apply that here. Pick one item from your audit—the most frequent or draining thought or a tiny, joy-killing action. For instance, if your thought was “I never have enough time,” your respec could be this: for one week, you will not say or think that phrase. Instead, when you feel the urge, you will state one specific thing you did have time for, even if it’s “I had enough time to brew my coffee this morning.” You’re not lying to yourself about being busy; you’re simply activating a different neural pathway, investing a skill point into “noticing sufficiency.” It feels awkward at first, like using a new weapon type, but the mastery is in the repetition. The Borderlands reviewer talked about the reward in learning and mastering each ability. This is that process. The joy comes from the tangible proof that you can change your own internal mechanics.

Step three is where you actively seek your co-op partners. No Vault Hunter, no matter how powerful, exists in a vacuum. Their abilities shine brighter and create more spectacular combos in a team. Your journey to happy fortune is the same. Identify one or two people in your life who already seem to operate from a place of abundance—not necessarily wealth, but generosity of spirit, optimism, or resilience. Then, consciously contribute to that “team.” Send a check-in text to a friend you admire. Offer a specific piece of help to a colleague without being asked. The action itself is the meaningful contribution. It shifts your focus from “what can I get?” to “what can I add?” This creates a feedback loop of connection and value. I make it a point to do this every Monday; I send one genuine compliment or offer of support. Over the last quarter, that’s roughly 13 “meaningful contributions,” and the return in strengthened relationships and unexpected opportunities has been immense. Abundance is a network effect.

Now, design a daily “power-up” ritual that is non-negotiable. Every character has an action skill—a powerful, signature move. Your daily ritual is yours. This isn’t about a two-hour meditation or a grueling 5 AM workout if that’s not your style. It’s about a 10-minute activity that makes you feel undeniably powerful and centered. For me, it’s writing three longhand pages of absolute nonsense every morning. No agenda, no grammar, just a brain dump. It clears the cache. For you, it might be a walk without headphones, dancing to one song with wild abandon, or sketching a silly doodle. The key is consistency and the feeling of self-efficacy it generates. It’s your personal action skill with a cool-down timer of 24 hours. When you master this small daily ability, you reinforce the core truth from our gaming analogy: you are in control of your own fun and power. You are learning your own mechanics.

Finally, implement a “loot filter” for your inputs. In loot-driven games, you eventually learn what gear is worth picking up and what’s just inventory clutter. Your mind consumes information as loot. Start filtering. Unfollow at least 10 social media accounts or mute keywords that trigger comparison or lack. I did this aggressively last year, cutting out about 70% of my “following” list. Replace that space with inputs that feel like epic loot: a podcast that teaches you something practical, a newsletter about a niche hobby, or even just more quiet. This curates the environment your respec’d habits are growing in. You’re not just building a better character; you’re farming a better map. Joy has a much higher drop rate in a consciously curated mental space.

So, there you have it. Unlocking your happy fortune isn’t about waiting for a legendary drop of luck from the sky. It’s the deliberate, rewarding work of learning to master your own abilities, just like finding joy in mastering each unique Vault Hunter. It’s about auditing your build, respeccing one habit at a time, finding your co-op team, activating your daily power-up, and filtering your mental loot. The process itself—the gradual feeling of becoming more powerful and capable in your own story—is where the true abundance lives. Start with step one today. Your character sheet is waiting.