How to Discover True Joy in the Daily Grind

I had one of those looooooong days yesterday. A thirteen-hour workday—eleven hours at the office of my part-time job and almost two hours of commuting, with errand running on the back end. I was so exhausted that when I finally fell on the couch, I could barely remember the day at all. I knew I would be writing about how to find joy in the daily grind, but that seemed impossible at that moment.

Then I remembered. Instead of one long blur, I began to recall the day in little snatches of time, small instances of joy. A funny moment with a coworker. A heartfelt conversation with another. Someone laughed at my joke. A free lunch. A celebration with a friend. Later, a free dinner. A welcome-home hug from my snaggle-toothed, seven-year-old niece. Joy in the grind.

We all have too many days when we miss those moments of joy. Not that the joy is missing, but we don’t see it through the mundane-ness of our days. Or maybe we sit down at the end of the evening and try to find a little joy from a funny social media video, so we can go to bed with a little lighter load.

I have a couple of friends who share the joy found in each day on a nearly nightly Facebook post. You’ve probably seen those too. But before we get cynical about someone else having a nicer day than we did, we should stop and think about the truth in our own lives. We are no different; we can experience joy too if we pay attention.

I know some days are harder than others. On some days it’s harder to see past the current pain. On some days it’s harder to believe joy is still waiting for us. Yet God promises joy, and He keeps all His promises. So even on a day like today, when our family found out a loved one passed from the pain of this world to the glory of freedom in heaven last night—I awoke to the sounds and smells of homemade biscuit making. Yes, joy can still be found during the hard days.

But I do believe it may be harder to find joy in the not-so-painful days, when life is a blur. When we’re busy from sunset to bedtime with no time to breath. When we don’t know what day it is. When each day runs into the next in a constant grind. How can we not miss the joy in those days?

The secret is within each of us—in our spirits and minds, yes, but even in our physical bodies. God gave each of us five physical senses with which to understand our world. But sometimes we make it through the day barely using them at all, only what is required.

Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. Miraculous gifts that will help us rediscover the joy in each day we’re alive. But we have to apply the mental discipline to allow these senses to operate at their maximum capacity instead of just getting by.

First, look. Open your eyes. Don’t just drive through the traffic lights on your way to the drop-off line at school or down the roads to work. Be alert to see what’s out there. Even if your car knows the way by heart, you will see something new each drive that may surprise you, and suddenly you’re wearing a joyful smile. What do you see? Who do you see? What moments of joy are waiting for you in the beauty of nature, in the aisles of a home goods store (even if you don’t buy anything!), in a text from a friend, in the curious face of a child, or even in a bittersweet moment of tears.

Listen. We are so inclined to speak first. We plan our next comment in a conversation instead of listening with our ears, minds, and hearts. Listen to those around you today. Listen for the sounds that bring you joy. Let the music you love, and with which you worship God, fill your heart. What about the sound of rain? Or the sound of birds in the morning, crickets in the evening? Stop long enough to listen to the life all around you throughout your day. You’ll experience joy.

Engage. You have three more senses! What did you taste today? Was it a new surprising sensation? Was it a comfortable familiar food that brought the joy of memories from the past? Was it refreshing or bubbly? What did you touch? Did you feel the heat of the sun, the coolness of a breeze, the soothing comfort of a hot shower? What about smell? Those flowers in the grocery store, the cut grass of your neighbor’s lawn, the comforting scent of your child’s newly washed hair. Scent is the strongest connection we have to memory, I’ve heard it said. Memories often bring joy, even if it’s bittersweet.

Embrace. What will you observe today? What will God reveal to you that brings joy when you open up your senses to each moment of your twenty-four hours? The Bible tells us to count everything as joy when we face trials. Surely every day brings some kind of trial, but when we are willing to embrace the day, embrace what comes our way, we can fall on our couch at the end of the day and smile at the remembrances of joyful moments.

Stop looking for your joy in cat and dog videos at the end of the day. Instead, look and listen, engage your senses, and embrace the joy that’s found all around us every day.