Finding Happiness in the Everyday

There’s a scene in the Harrison Ford and Anne Heche film Six Days, Seven Nights, in which Ford, who plays a grizzled pilot who lives on the tropical island of Makatea, has a conversation with Heche’s character Robin, a career-driven New Yorker on vacation on Makatea with her boyfriend Frank (David Schwimmer). Ford’s Quinn has this exchange with Robin about the people who come to the island paradise to find happiness and romance:

Quinn: They come here looking for the magic, hoping to find romance, when they can’t find it anywhere else.

Robin: Maybe they will.

Quinn: It’s an island, babe. If you didn’t bring it here, you won’t find it here.

While he’s rough around the edges and somewhat jaded with life, the Quinn character makes an interesting point. We often fall prey to the idea that if we look beyond our lives and have extraordinary experiences, such as a vacation in paradise or eating at a 3-Michelin-starred restaurant, our lives will somehow be richer and more fulfilling. Quinn’s sage words, “If you didn’t bring it here, you won’t find it here,” are worth paying attention to.

Happiness? What’s that?

We all want to be happy, but we struggle to find it. According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, which is based on a survey and how respondents rate their own lives, correlated with various quality of life factors, the United States is unhappier than it was last year, falling from number 15 to number 23. Clearly, happiness is on the decline, and finding ways to be happy is as important as ever.

The Happiness Report analyzes several aspects of life and how people feel about those things in their country, including issues like safety, work, transportation, religion, the environment, food, and shelter, to name a few. Happiness is, of course, ultimately a subjective and multifaceted concept that can vary from person to person.

One way to describe happiness is a sense of well-being, and a positive emotional state marked by feelings of joy, contentment, and fulfillment. These feelings are often rooted in one’s circumstances; if things aren’t going well, then it’s likely that happiness will be in short supply.

For believers in Jesus, happiness and joy are rooted in realities beyond one’s present circumstances. To be sure, there is joy to be found in your family, good food, lovely company, and fellowship with other believers. However, happiness and joy are also present even when they are absent. For Christians, finding happiness in the mundane aspects of life can be a profound journey of faith in a good God.

The Benefits of Happiness

Does it help to be happy? There’s a Scripture that says the following:

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth – Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, ESV

These verses seem to suggest that happiness may not be that beneficial. However, what wisdom literature, like the words in books like Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, invites us to do is to look deeper at things. Happiness is good for some things, but it can become a distraction from considering weightier matters.

Having the experience of entering a house of mourning is “better” than a house of feasting because when we are feasting, we typically want to banish all thoughts about sadness, injustice, and other aspects of our lives and the world around us that are uncomfortable. It can be healthy to visit a house of mourning because it compels us to face the reality of death, and it can draw our hearts and minds to the things that will matter eternally.

Happiness does have its benefits, though. If you’re happy, that can contribute to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, reduced chronic pain, better sleep, increased resilience, improved mental health, better self-esteem, healthier relationships, increased creativity and concentration, better decision-making, and a stronger sense of belonging and community.

In other words, happiness makes for a better quality of life, an overall improvement in your sense of well-being, healthier relationships, and satisfaction in your circumstances. Happiness is good for you, and cultivating it is in your best interest.

Cultivating Happiness in Your Life

The Quinn character mentioned earlier made the excellent point that people often look to exotic experiences to bring them happiness and romance. However, you’ll often find that you bring yourself and your problems into those experiences, and it’s not sustainable to seek happiness like that. Instead, perhaps it’s more beneficial to seek happiness in the mundane?

Some of the ways for a believer to nurture happiness in the mundane, everyday goings-on of life include the following:

Practicing gratitude A believer can cultivate happiness through shifting their mindset. One essential practice is learning to practice gratitude. Taking the time to focus on the good things in life, no matter how small, can transform one’s perspective. Psalm 16:11 reminds us of the joy found in God’s presence and what it looks like to delight in Him.

By acknowledging the blessings found in everyday moments, like God’s presence, believers can deepen their connection to the Lord and experience a sense of contentment even when life circumstances aren’t ideal.

Reframing negative thoughts How you think can impact you profoundly, which is why it’s wise to guard yourself and watch what you consume (Proverbs 4:23; 2 Corinthians 10:5). Challenging negative self-talk and replacing it with the truth of the gospel can help to remind us of our standing and identity in Christ.

Instead of trusting your own understanding, trust what the Lord says about you and your circumstances, submitting your way to the Lord in all things (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Embracing imperfection This is another practice that is also vital for happiness. When you accept that nobody is perfect and that it’s okay to make mistakes, this can alleviate stress and foster a more forgiving attitude. The Lord is doing His work in you, and He will finish what He started – “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, ESV).

Enjoying creation “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1, ESV). Connecting with the natural environment around you and delighting in God’s creation is a powerful way to experience joy and tranquility. Spending time outdoors, whether you’re riding your bike, walking, hiking, or simply sitting in a park, can provide you with a sense of renewal and peace.

Exercising regularly Physical activity releases endorphins, which can boost your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being. You can glorify the Lord in your body by taking care of it, being sure not to expose it to those things that undermine your well-being, like unhealthy foods, addictive substances, and sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).

Prioritizing self-care, rest, and relaxation can help improve your mood and overall well-being.

Practicing mindfulness Focusing on the present moment can help reduce stress and enhance your appreciation for life as it is. Scripture reminds us, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34, ESV).

Intentionally pursuing happiness Making intentional choices toward happiness plays a significant role in finding happiness in the mundane. Pursuing activities that bring joy is essential, and that includes hobbies, passions, or creative pursuits that make you happy, enrich your life, and provide you with a sense of purpose.

There’s a Bible verse which reminds us, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, ESV). Find ways to appreciate the work you do or the passions you’re pursuing.

Nurturing meaningful relationships Making the intentional choice to spend quality time with loved ones, friends, and your faith community can provide a sense of belonging and support.

For Christians, finding happiness isn’t about possessions or being in the best circumstances. Happiness can be found in the mundane. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul was celebrating and rejoicing while he was in prison! Finding happiness in the mundane is a journey that involves mindset shifts, embracing new habits, and making intentional choices toward happiness.

By practicing gratitude, reframing negative thoughts, embracing imperfection, connecting with God’s creation, exercising regularly and taking care of their health, practicing mindfulness, pursuing joyful activities, and nurturing meaningful relationships, believers can deepen their connection to God and experience a profound sense of joy and fulfillment in everyday life.

Next Steps

This journey can be hard, as life throws a lot in our direction, including suffering, loneliness, and loss. You don’t have to walk alone. You can reach out to a Christian counselor who can journey with you as you pursue happiness in all the right ways and places.