Triumph Steps®: Building Happiness and Mental Wellness as a Skill
Beatriz
Martinez-Peñalver,
L.M.H.C
A FEMCITY EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
By Violette de Ayala | Featured on FemCity Blog
Many of us think happiness is something that just happens. But what if joy, resilience, and clarity could be learned skills? That’s the vision behind Triumph Steps®, a neuroscience-based framework designed by psychotherapist [Founder’s Name] to help people — children, families, and adults alike — rewire their minds for lasting well-being.
In this feature, we explore the inspiration behind Triumph Steps®, its unique 8-step framework, and the real-life transformations it has sparked.
The Inspiration Behind Triumph Steps®
After more than 30 years as a psychotherapist, Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, L.M.H.C noticed a universal truth: regardless of age, background, or circumstance, people often lack the tools to manage their thoughts in ways that support well-being.
The turning point came through her daughter. Each morning she told her: “Remember that thoughts become things. Keep them beautiful.” That phrase captured the core of what she taught clients — our thoughts create feelings, feelings shape actions, and actions build our results.
One night, during prayer and gratitude practice with her daughter, she received a powerful inner question: “What are the thoughts you want to become things?” That moment of clarity birthed the vision for Triumph Steps®, a framework that blends psychotherapy insights, neuroscience, and practical exercises to help people design lives they love.
Happiness Is a Learnable Skill
“Happiness is a skill that can be learned,” says Beatriz.
Like a new language, it requires practice, vocabulary, and repetition. Neuroscience shows that when we train our thoughts toward gratitude and optimism, the brain forms pathways that make those states more natural.
Common Misconception: Many believe happiness depends on external conditions — a new job, relationship, or purchase. In truth, happiness is cultivated internally. Once people understand they can create happiness from within, they feel liberated and empowered.
The Triumph Steps® 8-Step Framework
Triumph Steps® combines psychology, neuroscience, and practical exercises into eight simple but profound steps:
A Clearly Identified Target Can Much More Easily Be Hit – Create a vivid three-year vision of the life you’d love.
A Good Student Always Writes Notes – Write your vision down with specific steps.
Be Aware of the Different Ways Fear Talks to You – Identify fear’s disguises like procrastination or perfectionism.
Fake It Until You Make It – Replace limiting thoughts with empowering affirmations and visualizations.
Silence — The Power to Create All Things – Use daily stillness to access inner wisdom.
Life Is a Boomerang – Cultivate gratitude and contribution; what you give returns to you.
Surround Yourself with People Who Bring You Joy and Help You Grow – Build a supportive, growth-oriented circle.
Repetition and Neuroplasticity – Strengthen new patterns through consistent practice.
➡️ Most struggle with Step 3 — fear in disguise. The fastest breakthroughs often come through Steps 4 and 5, where mindset shifts and silence create clarity.
Real-Life Transformation
One Triumph Steps® participant, Maria (name changed for privacy), felt stuck in marriage, career, and family life. By taking a “full-life inventory” and learning to identify her self-defeating thoughts, she designed a vision of the life she wanted.
She rediscovered purpose at work, healed her marriage through gratitude exercises, and built closer connections with her children. Today she describes her life as “full — not perfect, but full.”
Practical Takeaways for Readers
✨ Start today with this simple action:
Ask yourself, “If all my wishes came true, how would I love my life to look three years from now?” Write it down. Then choose one small step you can take today that moves you closer to that vision.
Even noticing whether your thoughts are guiding you toward or away from that vision can shift your focus and energy.
Triumph Steps® and the Future of Mental Health
The vision is big: to make Triumph Steps® the world’s most trusted framework for emotional wellness and resilience. Two key pathways:
Schools — teaching emotional literacy as a core subject, just like math and reading.
Clinicians — training therapists and coaches worldwide to integrate Triumph Steps® into their practices, schools, and communities.
By focusing on prevention and empowerment, Triumph Steps® aims to reduce the progression of the global mental health crisis.
To learn more or connect with Beatriz, visit her site : beatrizmartinez.org