Count it All Joy
I think about joy a lot. How to be joyful, how to share joy, how to work joyfully. Joy is defined as ‘the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying‘. Can you imagine finding joy in every single thing in life? That’s where the all part of “Count it All Joy” comes in – Every. Single. Thing.
Quite the thought, isn’t it?! I found it a good reminder this morning as things weren’t going quite as I had planned. I am just as human as the next person, and I don’t ever want to come across as preachy. I like to share things God has taught me – not because I’m a perfect example, but because I have a new glimpse of who I want to be.
I have noticed in life that there are areas that aren’t my favorite – things I race through because I have to do them, not because I’ve chosen to do them. And I recently realized that this is not “Counting it all Joy”. To race through a task or job while trying to think about it as little as possible – that’s definitely not showing joy! How embarrassing to find myself doing this! I find that I rush and race through quite a few things to get to the tasks I do enjoy, and on those days that I just don’t quite get to the preferred tasks, I realize I’ve reached the end of the day without having found any real delight or joy in what I’ve done! I’m quite certain the American Lady doesn’t do this (but of course she is human too, so she might do it sometimes, she just wouldn’t encourage it!)
So here are a few ideas I have been developing to complete tasks – all of them! – with joy! First off, work specifically. Every little task, especially the seemingly menial tasks, are so important – realize their worth and necessity! Do them specifically knowing the larger pictures of which they are a part!
If there is a large task, that really truly isn’t one of your favorites, do it as close to first thing as you can. That way it will be done when you have the most energy and are ideally the most optimistic about your work. And believe me, later in the day, you won’t bemoan the fact that it is done! (Then you will experience some real joy!!)
Do your tasks for others. If you go around put out that you have to do this job or that job, consider who is benefiting from your task. Believe me, life’s not all about you! (preaching to myself here again!) Does your company benefit from this effort – perhaps filing isn’t your favorite, but somewhere down the road your stellar filing skills might just save the company a lot of work or trouble because you’ll know right where the needed document is! Does your family benefit – dusting might not be the most inspiring task, but when you consider the delight that you and your Mother experience from having a tidy, dusted house, you will find joy in that!
“Oh dear, the house is too clean” said no one ever!
If you still have that one task that is just weighing on you, then I have one more suggestion – and I do it myself – seek more tasks similar to that one that weighs on you. What?! Wait, no! Sounds like the opposite of what a normal person would do, right? Well, I have news for you – the American Lady is far from normal! She’s exceptional. She’s outgoing. She’s ambitious. And yes, she’s joy-filled, too! When you have a ‘sore spot’ or an area that causes more heartache then perhaps it might, you have to ‘put on your big girl panties’ and conquer it. No task should ever have that hold on you. And I promise I have to work on this one too!! When you take on more similar tasks and require yourself to do them with joy and remarkably well, it will help you overcome that one original area. And believe me, it is SO worth it! Then when you realize that area is no longer such a mountain of a problem, your mission is complete! Go conquer another area and do this, now easy, task with joy!
There – I’ve shared some of my thoughts with you! Will you share with me how you’ve been inspired how to do all things with joy? How do you avoid the daily grind mentality and embrace every single thing in life?! Inspire me!
Until Next Time!
Hope.