There’s a funny thing about the choices that shape our lives. Most of them aren’t dramatic. They’re not epic moments with fireworks or inspirational music swelling in the background. They’re tiny. Quiet. Almost forgettable. And most of them are easy.

One of my strategies for a happier life is to understand that the actions that lead to success are actually pretty easy to do. And they’re also easy not to do. And that simple idea has shaped a lot of the choices I’ve made over the years… usually after learning the hard way.

Let me start with an embarrassing confession. My mom told me to floss every day. I didn’t. Not because I was rebellious or trying to make a statement. I just didn’t see a reason. My checkups were fine. My teeth looked good. And honestly, it was easier not to floss.

Until that day in my early twenties when the dentist told me I needed a root canal. I had no money, no insurance, and no way to pay for it. I eventually lost that tooth, and let me tell you, that woke me up fast. Suddenly, the tiny choice of flossing didn’t feel insignificant anymore. So I started flossing. And shocker, it was easy. Thirty years later, I haven’t had a cavity since.

Turns out this easy stuff is pretty powerful.

The same thing happened with my health. Sitting on the couch was easy. Eating fast food was easy. Drinking too many Mountain Dews was very easy. And I didn’t see the consequences until I was in my forties and staring down the same health problems that sent my dad into open heart surgery.

Fixing it wasn’t rocket science. I started eating better. I started exercising. I lost some weight, my labs improved, and my pants fit again. Was it hard? It kinda depends on how you define hard. It wasn’t (and still isn’t) always easy to make the healthy choice, but making the choices is easy. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but if you’ve ever successfully changed any bad habit you know it to be true.

It’s easy to eat Doritos and watch Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s also easy to eat carrots and read a good book. It’s easy to buy Jeep parts on credit and hit the trail this weekend. It’s also easy to save up and buy them with cash a few months from now. It’s easy to hit the snooze button and sink into the best sleep of your life. It’s also easy to get up and walk on the treadmill.

The difference isn’t difficulty. It’s perspective.

I used to only see the short term. I didn’t connect the dots between tiny choices and big outcomes. But life has a way of handing out wake up calls in the form of missing teeth, tight pants, high blood pressure, and credit card debt. Eventually I learned that every day is made up of dozens of these tiny, easy decisions. Each one nudges me toward a better version of myself or pulls me away from it.

And that’s why this has become one of my core strategies for a happier life. The goal isn’t to suddenly overhaul your whole world. It’s to look at your day to day and ask yourself a simple question: Will this make my life better or worse?

That’s it. When you see your choices through that lens, it truly makes it easier to make the better choice.

Don’t wait for the dentist to pull a tooth with barely enough anesthesia. Trust me on that one. Look ahead. Make the easy choices that your future self will thank you for. And watch what happens to your health, your finances, your relationships, and your happiness.