Here is my third recommendation …
ENJOY your job
· See the value and importance of what you are doing. Think highly of your work.
If you don’t love what you’re doing, go and do something else! Seriously – the best career advice you can ever get is to do something you love to do and get people to pay your for it. The truth is that what you’re doing is very important. It’s significant – even if it may not be prominent.
· Choose to be a joyful person. Smile more.
After a while, you come to realise that happiness is really a choice! It is not a certain set of circumstances (marriage, house, position, talents or accomplishments). You’re about as happy as you choose to be. No one or no thing can ‘make’ you’ more happy than you are right now, at least not over the long haul.
Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil.4:4). Make a choice to rejoice.
A smile does wonders – for you and for others.
· Be aware of your moods and seek to control them.
All of us have a variety of moods through out life and even throughout a given day (highs and lows on the emotional scale). Some moods tend to just come and go without much explanation. Others are tied to what’s happening at the time while others are tied very much to the way we are thinking.
Learn to be aware of your moods – what they are and what may be contributing to them – and then respond appropriately to them. Why? Because our moods directly affect the atmosphere of our workplace, for better or worse. They contribute to the ‘climate’ and affect things such as job satisfaction and productivity. A leader’s emotions are contagious! You set the atmosphere and the temperature of your team and ministry environment.
· Learn to laugh and see the humorous side of life (and yourself!).
A sense of humour is a good thing for all of us. Solomon, one of the wisest people who ever lived, said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine (Prov.17:22).” Try to enjoy the journey. ANy jobcan be both challenging and fulfilling – with varying ratios! There are good days and hard days. Days you’re on top of the world and days you’d rather forget!
In the midst of whatever circumstance we can know an inner joy and peace that God is in control.
Jesus said, “My burden is easy and light.” He also said, “… that your joy might be full.”
· Be a grateful person who focuses on the positive not just the negative.
Learn to be thankful for what ‘is’ rather than always complaining about what ‘isn’t’. Gratefulness is one of the keys to true joy. Focus on what’s going well and what you are thankful for.
Paul says, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess.5:16-18).”
· Get on the ‘solution side’ of problems and challenges.
Enjoying our job and keeping a joyful and grateful attitude doesn’t mean we ignore problems or challenges. Not at all! But what we do is, we get on the ‘solution side’ as quickly as possible. Don’t ask “Why did this happen?” or “Whose fault is this?” but rather ask “What can we do to fix this?” Yes, learn from things but don’t get stuck in a ‘pity party’ or a ‘blame game’.
More tomorrow …
This is excellent advice. For most of us, our work is our main ministry. We own our business. Thank you for taking the time as a pastor to address work issues. It is possible to be secularly-placed and significant in the kingdom of God.