Happiness might seem like an easy concept at first glance—until you really start to examine it. Ask yourself honestly, “Am I happy?” You might be surprised by the complexity of the answer. Life pulls us in different directions, and often without realizing it, we find ourselves emotionally off-center.

For many, the pursuit of happiness is ongoing and deeply personal. According to findings from the 2016 Harris Poll Survey of American Happiness, only about one-third of Americans reported being genuinely happy. Meanwhile, a General Social Survey pointed out “happiness inequality,” meaning levels of joy in the U.S. vary greatly depending on gender, income, and ethnicity.

Sometimes the key to success isn’t adding more—it’s removing what’s quietly pulling you in the wrong direction. In a world obsessed with doing, chasing, and acquiring, the idea of letting go can feel counterintuitive. But real transformation often begins when we cut the weight.

If you want to grow into the most successful version of yourself, you’ll need to give up some deeply ingrained patterns. Not all at once, and not perfectly. But gradually, intentionally. These 13 shifts are hard to make, but each one clears a path toward a clearer, more powerful life.