I keep coming back to the idea that I need to figure out how to find joy in the stuff that I am doing well AS WELL AS pursuing the things that will bring me joy. Is a good trash collector joyful because he’s doing the thing that brings him joy or because he finds joy in the thing he is doing? I think it’s got to be the latter. Maybe that’s revealing a personal bias. Actually, it almost definitely does.
So, if the thing is finding joy in what you’re doing, how do you do that? Here’s what I’m working on:
– Specify goals. Even in the little things, having some targets that you’re aiming to accomplish is a big deal. It helps you to see the forest for the trees.
– Celebrate complete. Moving something from undone to done is a big deal, no matter what it is.
– Remember that “Work is not a curse. Frustrating work is a curse.” (From an “Ask Pastor John” about laziness.)
– Remember that your arc isn’t the big deal. Christ’s arc is the big deal. Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. And for the believer, good work is part of the restoration.
That’s what I’ve got for now.