Find your happy
There's an old (-ish? 2011) Steven Curtis Chapman song I've always loved called "Do Everything," which talks about how the things we do should always be to the glory of God. In the song, he speaks of everything from being a stay-at-home parent to "being that guy in a suit and tie" to flipping burgers... you get the drift. Literally everything.
Even if you're not looking to God as your inspiration, I still thinks there's merit to the concept of doing things to the best of your ability.
It's something that so many people find odd, which (to be completely honest) boggles my mind. Even fellow "Christians" among us seem to not consider that they should be doing things to the best of their ability simply because it's the right thing to do.
Why do we find making our best effort a weird concept?
It's not just a generational thing either, before someone jumps on the "these kids today" bandwagon. I know people my age, I know people older than me, who do not make their best effort. I've seen it with my own eyes.
Now, before someone else comes at me for "well not everyone's best effort is the same," I absolutely recognize that. I recognize that we all have days where we can only give 50%. And that's OK. We all have situations where we simply aren't able to do what is being asked of us, we're not physically capable. I have days where I have migraines and any sort of functionality is a challenge; I know others with migraines who can't get out of bed. I recognize that we're not all equal in things.
That is not this. That does not apply and that is not me trying to shame those folks.
But that doesn't mean that you can't and shouldn't give your best effort in the way you can.
I also want to make a note here: this is not about working outside set boundaries for your workplace or doing work that is not your job. Boundaries are healthy and there are too many bosses in this world who do not understand that concept. Home time is for home things, work time is for work things, you should not have to do work things at home unless you work from home. Establishing your boundaries is healthy and important. Respect your time because no one else will.
This concept of doing your best should go beyond the walls of your workplace. It's not just about your work, but things you do in general.
It boils down to this: does the effort you give reflect a person who is doing their best or a person who clearly doesn't care enough to try?
I admit, I haven't had a TON of jobs over the years. I was blessed to not have to, to be able to pour into my academics and the teams I was part of. I probably didn't put in my best effort always with those teams either. I vividly remember counting down the minutes in practices and sometimes sharing that knowledge because we were all just done after a day of school.
And I admit to being a procrastinator. I was definitely the student who would pull all-nighters to finish papers in college that I knew about for weeks.
I wish I had that 18-year-old energy again. Now I just fall asleep on the couch if I stay up too late and I wake up regretting it at 4 a.m.
But I think I'm realizing more of what this concept really means, too. I used to strive for perfection (that's part of why I'm a procrastinator, it didn't leave me much time to obsess, just time to get the work done) and now I realize there's a middle ground.
Doing your best does not equal perfection.
It simply means that you have given what you can in that moment. You should strive to fix mistakes if they are fixable, yes, but at a certain point you have to just let go and keep moving forward.
It also means that sometimes the work is going to be unpleasant. But as long as it's not unethical or immoral, you should still do the best you can with it.
Sometimes, doing the best you can is a matter of the heart, not a matter of the actual work you produce.
Actually, I think it's always a matter of the heart.
It's interesting, for those of us who are Christians, how many things boil down to being a matter of the heart. God does say he can see the heart whereas man cannot.
"...the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." ~1 Samuel 16:7
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." ~Colossians 3:23
But I think the attitude you provide when you work shows your heart. Yes, you can get frustrated, I'm not saying that never happens. You are allowed to be upset, to speak out and up.
But if you have a heart willing to work for others and with others, you will find others more willing and able to work with you, in my experience.
I spend my days working with dogs and cats. I guess it's easy to say my heart is usually in that part of it. But that also means I spend my days picking up poop and scooping litter boxes.
Still, I know that is a reflection of me, my business, and my integrity. Sure, I could arguably not do it one time. Will anyone know? I will.
And that's what matters. I will know. I want to hold myself to a higher standard, even if it's just dog poop.
So, yes, we do all for the glory of God. But we also need to do things just because they're the right things to do. It's a matter of honesty and integrity.
If you want to work, do your best, however much or little that is, but do it with the right frame of mind and heart.
I also teach college classes. Students with the right heartset (like mindset, I'm making up words here, just roll with it), students who make an effort, those are the ones I have an abundance of patience for.
When someone clearly doesn't want to be there, be it a job, a college class, or whatever, I have to question why they are wasting their time? Why are they wasting everyone's time?
“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get” ― W.P. Kinsella
We've all had times where we wondered that about people. I've been in doctors' offices and vet clinics where the staff were miserable and cranky. Sometimes it's a bad day. But when the same person is consistently unpleasant, you wonder why they do the job they do if they hate it so much.
Maybe this is an entitled statement, but if you don't like the work you're doing, find a different job. There's a million places hiring and I'd be happy to help you look!
But at some point, if you find you don't enjoy any of the jobs you've tried, you have to consider -- is the problem the job or you?
Where is your heart in all of this? Perhaps the better question is -- where are you finding your joy for life from? Is it in your job or is it in something deeper?
"If you want to be happy, be." ― Leo Tolstoy
Even if you're flipping burgers and taking orders at a fast food joint, you can still enjoy your job. Been there done that. I still remember the day a guy screamed at me -- admittedly, that was a bad day -- and the day a little girl told me I was beautiful -- that was an awesome day. You can find the good in it. You can recognize that most people (not all, but most) are happy because you're providing their food.
Even if it's cleaning up dog poop.
Even if it's scrubbing toilets and cleaning up after people.
Even if it's an office job, which honestly sounds terrible to me.
A smiling face with a happy heart goes a long way to making others smile. It's a ripple effect, you know?
There is always good to be found if you're willing to look. Sometimes the good in the world can be you.
“It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” ― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
I also raise a challenge to you. If you're not leading the life you want, if you're truly miserable with it, if you have bigger dreams -- chase them. Figure out what it takes to get there and go for it.
And, again, I recognize that we don't all start at the same place and therefore chasing dreams can be easier than some of us than others. So my offering is this -- if you're reading this and you have a dream, let me know. Let me brainstorm with you. Let's see if we can help you catch it.
There are so many people who talk themselves out of dreaming because they think their dreams are impossible. It's not true. Dreams are hard work. Dreams take time and effort. But they're not impossible. Sometimes they take finding and accepting help. But they're not impossible.
The question is, are you willing to work hard to get what you want?
Perhaps that's a post for another day.
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