5 Happiness Hacks From Liz Moody You’ll Want to Try Immediately

The advice that changes your life often starts with the smallest step—and that’s exactly what Liz Moody wants Girls Gotta Eat listeners to know. On the latest episode, hosts Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg have a conversation with author, journalist, and wellness podcast host Liz Moody. Known for her book 100 Ways to Change Your Life and her hit Liz Moody Podcast, Moody has built a career around making science-backed advice feel approachable. But before becoming a go-to voice on happiness and health, she faced her own battles with debilitating anxiety and agoraphobia.

The episode plays out like a toolkit—full of hacks to help you feel better and appreciate the moment you’re in.

Hack #1: Reframe struggles as “psychological richness”

Most of us try to avoid pain at all costs, but Moody argues that hardship can actually add depth to our lives. She calls it “psychological richness”—the idea that breakups, setbacks, or even career detours create a more layered, satisfying story in the long run. “In the moments where I’m crying and everything sucks, I can literally step back for a second and say, I’m adding psychological richness to my life,” she tells Hesseltine and Greenberg.

Rather than viewing those low points as wasted time, Moody reframes them as essential experiences that shape who we are. The science backs it up: People who encounter and overcome challenges often report greater meaning and satisfaction when reflecting on their lives.

Hack #2: Ask yourself “what’s good here?”

It’s easy for the brain to lock onto what’s wrong. Moody offers a simple reset: Pause and ask yourself, “What’s good here?” Moody explains, “you’re just wiring your brain to notice all of the good things in that moment.” 

The trick works because our brains are naturally primed to scan for threats and negatives, a survival mechanism that often leaves us feeling anxious or dissatisfied. By deliberately shifting focus to positives—a cozy space, a funny moment with a friend, or even the taste of a great meal—we retrain the brain to balance its perspective. Over time, this practice creates a habit of gratitude that feels more grounded and specific than vague affirmations.

Hack #3: Stop believing in the “arrival fallacy”

We’ve all had the thought: “I’ll be happy when… [insert variable here].” But according to Moody, that’s a trap psychologists call the “arrival fallacy.” The belief that happiness sits on the other side of a milestone often leaves people disappointed when the big moment doesn’t feel as life-changing as they imagined. “Whenever we put this sort of benchmark on our happiness, research shows that we will not be happier when we get that thing,” Moody explains.

She points to examples like Olympians who experience post-competition depression after finally winning a gold medal, or founders who feel lost after selling a company. The achievement is real, but the joy tied to it is fleeting—because humans are wired for progress, not arrival. In other words, it’s the process of moving toward something that feels rewarding, not simply reaching the finish line.

Moody suggests asking how you can enjoy the journey right now. That could mean savoring the act of writing a book instead of obsessing over its release, or appreciating a relationship as it grows rather than focusing only on an engagement. The goalposts will always move—but shifting your focus to progress keeps joy within reach every step of the way.

Hack #4: Pay attention to your partner’s “bids”

In relationships, it’s often the small moments that matter most. Moody highlights research from the Gottman Institute showing that couples thrive when they turn toward their partner’s “bids”—the little attempts to connect, like sharing a meme, pointing out a bird outside the window, or telling a quick story from their day. “Basically, there are moments that have outsized significance and importance in your relationship,” Moody says. “If we can pay attention to these moments, we can maybe be a little bit more lax on the rest of them.”

When partners consistently ignore or brush off those bids, it chips away at closeness and leaves one person feeling unseen. Over time, that lack of acknowledgment can be just as damaging as bigger conflicts. On the flip side, simply engaging—laughing at the meme, looking up at the bird, or listening to the story—signals care and strengthens trust. It’s okay if you’re not perfectly attentive 24/7; everyone zones out sometimes. The key is recognizing these bids as opportunities to build intimacy rather than dismissing them as throwaway moments. 

Hack #5: Treat energy like your most valuable resource

So much advice around wellness focuses on adding new habits, but Moody argues that none of it matters if you’re running on empty. “If you do not have energy, you’re not going to be able to do any of those things,” she explains. Instead of piling on expectations, she suggests starting with an “energy audit,” identifying what gives you energy and what consistently drains it.

The audit can cover everything from people to food to your own self-talk. Maybe certain relationships leave you exhausted, while others recharge you. Maybe that late-night scrolling habit leaves you groggy, while a morning walk gets you feeling sharp. Even the way you speak to yourself matters—if your inner voice is constantly critical, it can sap more energy than you realize. Once you pinpoint the drains, you can set boundaries around them or cut them out entirely. From there, prioritize the things that restore you. 

If these hacks resonated with you, the full episode of Girls Gotta Eat is packed with even more stories, science, and strategies you won’t want to miss. Available now wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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