Why You're Still Stuck (Even After All the Self-Help Advice)

We’ve all heard it—“Happiness is a habit. Build it through your routine, mindset, and goals.” The world is overflowing with self-help messages that sound great on paper. And while I agree that your habits shape your life, here’s the truth: you can build all the routines in the world, and still feel empty.

Because happiness isn’t manufactured—it’s connected.

You could meditate daily, drink your green juice, check every box on your productivity planner, and still feel stuck. Why? Because happiness is not a destination, it’s a byproduct of something deeper. It’s what overflows when you're connected to truth, to peace, to purpose—when you're rooted in something bigger than yourself.

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” What’s flowing out of you is the result of what you’re rooted in.

Let me say it plainly: if your roots are in hustle culture, comparison, or even just constant self-improvement, it might look okay on the outside—but it’s not sustainable. Like a plant in bad soil, you can water it all you want, but it’s not going to thrive. But if you're connected to truth—if you're rooted in God’s purpose—joy flows. No striving required.

Here’s what most self-help advice misses entirely: purpose is not something you invent. It’s something you discover. You were created with a purpose. It's already written. You don’t need to manifest it. You just need to take the next right step.

And how do you get unstuck? You serve. You pour out. You encourage someone else. Because joy doesn’t come from taking more in—it comes from giving out. The people living with the most joy aren’t chasing it. They’re giving it away. And God? He pours it right back on them.

Yes, once you’re connected to your purpose, then go ahead—build those habits, create that morning routine, develop that growth mindset. But don’t start with the routine. Start with the root.

That’s how you get unstuck. That’s how joy flows.