I Just Want to Be Happy is a Self-Help guide that offers readers practical, fun & relatable strategies to boost mental well-being based on the latest information in neuroscience. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I wrote I Just Want to Be Happy because as a psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how many people struggle with the belief that happiness is always just out of reach—something they’ll achieve once they get the promotion, find the right relationship, or check off the next big goal. But the truth is, happiness isn’t a destination; it’s something we can cultivate, notice and experience right now.

Most self-help books are not based on any research or evidence at all, so it felt very important to create something that bridged the gap between science and everyday life in a practical and hopefully engaging way.

This book isn’t about vague positivity or unrealistic promises, it’s about real, actionable strategies that anyone can use to shift their mindset, build resilience, and start feeling happier right away. Most importantly, I wanted to create something doable—because improving our mental well-being shouldn’t feel like another overwhelming task on a never-ending to-do list.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

One of the biggest ideas in I Just Want to Be Happy is that happiness isn’t something we passively wait for—it’s something we create through small, intentional choices. Many people believe they’ll be happy when certain external conditions are met, but research shows that our habits, thoughts, and daily actions have a much greater impact on our well-being than we realize.

I also wanted to challenge some common misconceptions about happiness. For example, a lot of people think they have to eliminate all negative emotions to be happy, but that’s simply not true. Happiness and struggle can coexist, and learning how to navigate challenges with resilience and self-compassion is a crucial part of emotional well-being.

Another key idea is that happiness isn’t just a mindset—it’s a whole-body experience influenced by neuroscience. Our brains are wired to focus on threats and negativity, but we can train ourselves to shift our attention and build mental habits that support a more positive, fulfilling life. That’s why I included simple, science-backed strategies that help readers rewire their thinking patterns in a way that feels natural and doable.

Finally, I wanted to make sure this book was practical. The strategies in the book are designed to be fun, flexible, and easy to incorporate into everyday life, so readers can start seeing real changes without feeling like they have to overhaul everything at once. Each chapter is a standalone so that a reader can just pick the book up and start reading wherever they are drawn to at that point in time. Each chapter is divided into action steps of varying levels of difficulty so that wherever you find yourself on a given day in terms of your mood or your motivation, there will be something there for you to incorporate into your day to begin to feel better.

How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?

Writing I Just Want to Be Happy was a blend of years of professional experience, deep research, and a passion for making science-backed strategies accessible. I’ve spent my career studying and applying concepts from neuroscience, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so in many ways, this book is a culmination of knowledge I’ve been gathering for a long time.

For this book specifically, I dove into the latest research on happiness, mindset shifts, and mental well-being—pulling from studies in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science. I wanted to make sure that everything I shared was not only backed by evidence but also practical and relatable for everyday life.

As for how long it took, from the initial idea to a finished manuscript, the process spanned several years. Writing, refining, and making sure the book was engaging and actionable took time, but I wanted to create something that felt both research-based and easy to apply—so readers wouldn’t just learn about happiness but actually start experiencing more of it.

What is one thing you hope that readers take away from I Just Want to Be Happy?

If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from I Just Want to Be Happy, it’s that happiness isn’t something you have to wait for—it’s something you can start cultivating right now, exactly where you are. You don’t need a perfect life, a perfect mindset, or perfect circumstances to feel happier. Small shifts in how you think, what you focus on, and how you show up for yourself each day can make a real difference.

I want readers to feel empowered, knowing that they have more control over their happiness than they might have believed. It’s not about chasing some future moment when everything falls into place, it’s about learning how to create joy, meaning, and fulfillment in the present, no matter what challenges life throws your way.

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