The Alphabet of Happiness

By Klaudia Mitura

The Alphabet of Happiness
by Klaudia Mitura
Available from O books, October 1^st, 2025

How 40% of Your Happiness Is in Your Hands—And How to Make It Stick
What if you discovered that nearly half of your happiness isn’t dictated by your genes or your circumstances, but by the small, daily actions you choose? According to renowned positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky, 50% of our happiness is inherited, and just 10% is shaped by our circumstances. That means a surprising 40% of our happiness is determined by the habits and activities we repeat every day.
This revelation is at the heart of Klaudia Mitura’s inspiring new book, The Alphabet of Happiness—a science-backed, A-to-Z guide to creating more happiness at work, in relationships and in your own skin, one manageable habit at a time.

Born from Adversity: Klaudia’s Journey

Klaudia Mitura, a work psychologist, learning and development specialist at the Science Museum Group, and certified Chief Happiness Officer, didn’t set out to write a book about happiness. Her quest began during the darkest days of the Covid pandemic: unable to return home to Poland, recently made redundant, wedding plans derailed, and facing the devastating news of her father’s serious illness. At her lowest point, Klaudia craved not a lifetime of happiness, but just a moment of it.
So, she turned to what she knew best—science. Klaudia embarked on a personal happiness experiment, testing out evidence-based habits and practices to see what truly worked. This experiment became the foundation for her award-winning podcast, The Happiness Challenge, and now, her upcoming book.

Three Science-Backed Strategies for Building Happiness-Boosting Habits

Happiness isn’t just a fleeting emotion or a lucky break. As Klaudia’s research and personal journey reveal, it’s something we can actively shape. From breathing exercises to gratitude journals, happy people engage in habits that help them to sustain their positive wellbeing even in the most challenging situations. But how do we actually build habits that stick—especially when life gets tough?
Klaudia’s approach is grounded in the latest research on habit formation. Here are three key strategies you’ll find throughout The Alphabet of Happiness:

1. Harness the Power of Cues

Every habit starts with a cue—a trigger that prompts you to act. As Charles Duhigg explains in The Power of Habit, making your cues obvious increases the likelihood you’ll stick to a positive habit. For example:

When you make your morning tea, use it as a cue to jot down three things you’re grateful for.
When you brush your teeth, let it remind you to do a quick breathing exercise.
When your phone alarm rings, take a mindful moment before diving into your day.

By pairing new habits with existing routines, you make them easier to remember and more likely to become second nature. The same principle applies to breaking unwanted habits: anticipate the cue (like stress or boredom) and plan a healthier response in advance.

2. Make the First Step Easy

Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, emphasizes the importance of lowering the barrier to entry for positive habits. The less effort it takes to start, the more likely you are to keep going. Klaudia encourages readers to set up their environment for success:

Want to drink more water? Keep a bottle on your desk.
Want to exercise? Lay out your workout clothes the night before.
Want to write in a journal? Keep it on your pillow.

Conversely, make unwanted habits harder to access. If you’re trying to cut down on sweets, store them on a high shelf. Want to watch less TV? Hide the remote. The harder it is to indulge in a negative habit, the less likely you are to do it.

3. Align Habits with Your Identity

James Clear, in Atomic Habits, introduces the concept of identity-based habits. Instead of focusing solely on outcomes (“I’ll meditate three times a week”), ask yourself, “What kind of person do I want to become?” If your answer is, “Someone who prioritizes calm and self-care,” you’re more likely to stick with meditation even when motivation wanes. Klaudia’s book is filled with prompts and exercises to help you connect your habits to your values and self-image, making them more resilient over time.

The A-to-Z of Happiness

Drawing on psychological research and her own lived experience, Klaudia’s The Alphabet of Happiness offers 26 practical, science-backed principles—one for each letter of the alphabet. Each habit is designed to be simple, actionable, and adaptable to your unique life circumstances. From “Acceptance” to “Zest,” the book weaves together expert insights, personal anecdotes, and hands-on strategies to help you create genuine, lasting change.
You don’t have to read the book in order—just dip into the habits that resonate most, and build your own toolkit for happiness, one letter at a time.
Every principle is grounded in scientific research and tested in the real world—by Klaudia herself, as she navigated some of life’s toughest challenges. Her personal stories and practical tips make the science come alive, showing that happiness isn’t just possible, but achievable, even when circumstances are far from perfect.

About the Author

Klaudia Mitura brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and personal warmth to her work. As a psychologist, learning and development manager, and Chief Happiness Officer, she’s dedicated her career to understanding what makes people thrive. Through her podcast, webinars, and now this groundbreaking new book, Klaudia shares evidence-based insights with audiences around the world. She lives in South-East London, where she continues to experiment with happiness—one habit at a time.

The Alphabet of Happiness by Klaudia Mitura is Available from O books on October 1st, 2025, or from wherever books are sold.

BOOK LINK: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/o-books/our-books/alphabet-happiness

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