Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind Podcast, where we're learning how to be happier by working with our minds.
If you'd like to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com. Let's get you on the path to being happier, which is what I want for you.
When the World Feels Heavy
Right now, the problems we face can feel overwhelming.
The news is full of suffering and injustice.
And it’s easy to slip into the belief that nothing we do will matter.
But that’s where apathy takes root.
And apathy is dangerous—because it allows harm to continue unchallenged.
The Power of One
One of my students came to me feeling stuck in this very mindset.
She told me: “There are too many problems, and I’m just one person.”
So we started small.
She began bringing a reusable water bottle to work.
Then she packed her lunch instead of buying plastic-packaged food.
She asked her office manager to consider non-plastic options in the kitchen.
She joined a local park cleanup.
None of it was dramatic.
But each step restored her sense of agency.
Her mood improved. Her anxiety softened.
And her choices inspired others—her coworkers began reducing plastic at work, and her new community connections gave her a sense of belonging.
Why Small Steps Matter
This is the truth:
You don’t need to start a movement.
You don’t need to solve global crises.
What matters is choosing better habits—day by day.
Asking yourself: What kind of impact do I want to make today?
And then letting that intention guide your choices.
Because over time, those small steps build a future very different from what apathy allows.
Doing It Together
These are not easy times.
But we’re not meant to face them alone.
That’s why in the Happiness Club, I’m teaching practical ways to stay engaged, hopeful, and empowered.
We come together as a community.
We share strategies.
We learn from world-class experts.
And we remind ourselves—our small steps matter.
If you’d like to join, you can be part of the Happiness Club for $1 for the first month.
Come to moniquerhodes.com, click on Courses, and you’ll find it there.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
