10 feet above the ground. My fingers are screaming, my legs are shaking, the holds I’m climbing on hurt, and the next move seems impossible. But there’s not enough time to complain. I need to just go for it. With my last bit of strength, I pull on the millimeters of plastic my body is suspended from, and I launch my left hand with speed and desperation. My fingers stretch as wide as my eyes. I’ve been trying to complete this climb for two months now, with at least 80 attempts and all failures. My fingertip hits the lip of the finish hold, and the rest of my hand falls into place. I squeeze like my life depends on it, and I barely hold on as my body weight yanks me down. I bring my other hand up and complete the climb. I jump off the wall screaming “YEEEES,” pumping my fist midfall. The happiness I felt was unmatched.
The most frequently asked question in my life actually doesn’t come from other people. Instead, the most common question that I think about comes from myself: What makes me happy? I’ve been thinking about this question since I was a teenager, inspired by my mom always telling me to do what makes me happy. For me, happiness is not tied to one singular thing. It comes from a mix of values that share a common theme. For example, I personally enjoy being challenged, staying persistent, solving problems, and feeling the satisfaction that comes with growth. The things I enjoy most align with that theme.
One of the clearest examples is rock climbing. I started about two years ago, first as a way to stay active without the boredom of the gym. Lifting weights felt repetitive and empty. Climbing became much more. It showed me how happiness can come from physical struggle mixed with mental creativity. Each route felt like a puzzle, and it introduced me to a community that celebrated effort as much as success. Often, I failed the same climb for weeks. But once I reached the top, the accomplishment was worth it. That mix of activity, challenge, and community made climbing one of the happiest parts of my life.
Video games gave me that same cycle of struggle and reward. I’ve been playing since I was six. Unlike climbing, which is mostly individual, gaming taught me the joy of teamwork and competition. Whether I beat a better team, finished a tough level, or solved a complicated puzzle, they all gave me a similar feeling to winning in climbing. On top of that, video games gave birth to many of my closest friendships. Sharing late-night hours together, laughing and enjoying each other’s wins and losses. Games overall shaped my childhood and taught me lessons in teamwork and dedication.
Another source of happiness for me comes from Chess. Chess is a much quieter and slower activity. Unlike rock climbing and video games that reward fast reaction time and thinking, chess requires careful planning and deliberation. Playing chess taught me that most success comes slowly and gradually over time. Compounding experiences to better yourself day after day. It taught a different type of problem-solving, one that required strategy and reflection
Another activity that makes me happy is building Lego sets. They brought creativity and imagination to problem-solving. As young as 4 years old, I would spend hours on the floor surrounded by bricks, sometimes following instructions and other times making my own designs from scratch. I would even submit some of my innovative creations to the LEGO magazine in hopes of getting featured. Even now, I keep Lego sets in my room as decorations, like a bluebird, flowers, and cars. To most people, Lego is more of a child’s activity, but to me, it’s taking chaos and turning it into something complete. That process gives me the same satisfaction as solving any tough problem in life.
Spending time with friends ties all of this together. Without them, the other things would not feel the same. Friends made climbing more exciting, video games more fun, chess more meaningful, and Lego builds less boring. Achievements feel better when they’re shared, and failures are easier with support.
When all of these activities are compared, a common theme appears. Whether I’m hanging from an overhung climbing wall, stuck at the boss level of a video game, staring at a complex position on the chessboard, or placing the last finishing touches on a majestic Lego set, the same feeling is there. The enjoyment doesn’t come from completion alone, but from trying again, adjusting, and eventually figuring things out. For me, happiness is rooted in solving problems and growing, so I want my life and career to give me those chances.
The best happiness always came after failure. Nothing else compares to finally doing something that once felt impossible. It could be finishing a climb after weeks of falls, finally winning a game, finding the right move in chess, or completing a Lego set after messing up. The moments mattered because of the effort, not just the success.
That is why entrepreneurship feels like the right path. Running a business is never easy. It will be full of challenges and mistakes. But those are the things that make it meaningful. A business forces problems to be solved, setbacks to be handled, and connections to be built. It fits what I want, because it lets me face challenges while working with others. It matches the kind of happiness I’ve found again and again.
In the end, happiness is not about living without problems. It is about picking the problems worth your time. For me, those are the ones that challenge me, bring me closer to others, and push me to grow.