Thrive Wave Coaching

Finding Joy in The Mundane

When I was a kid, all I dreamed of was being happy. Back then, I didn’t know what happiness was. I thought maybe it was something you could buy, achieve, or grasp. But in reality, I was chasing the end of the rainbow.

I was always told to study and work hard, to get a good job and a steady paycheck. So, that’s what I did. But happiness didn’t follow.

I figured I must have done something wrong, so I changed careers and worked even harder. I got a more expensive car, a nicer apartment, and better clothes. But happiness was still nowhere to be found.

I could feel happiness was right in front of me, yet beyond my reach. So, I pushed myself even further. Still hoping that one day, maybe, I’ll make it to the end of the rainbow.

Fast forward a couple of years, and all that was left of me was an empty shell passing through a void, with the single mission of making it through the day.

Happiness? A distant dream that was slowly dissolving into mist.

One winter evening, as I was walking back home after a long day of work, I found myself wondering: Why do I keep going? Why do I still try? It would be so much easier just to give up.

That’s when I noticed, a weak little flame flickering somewhere deep inside of my empty shell. A glimmer of hope fighting for its survival — My survival.

I didn’t want to give up, because there was still hope. Hope for a better life, a happy life.

So, I decided to fuel that little light with the tiniest positive things I could find. Like the warm train being on time on a freezing winter morning, or the joyful laughter of kids as they were sliding down the hill on their sleds.

I learned to appreciate and give thanks to all the small, yet beautiful things in life. Such as the first blossoms sprouting out of the ground in spring, the mesmerizing colors in the sky during sunsets, or the refreshing air filling my lungs after a rainy day.

I found meaning in helping others and giving back. It didn’t matter if it was something as small as holding the elevator. Or something bigger, such as supporting a friend in their healing process from childhood trauma. As long as I could do something to help, I felt content and connected.

Over time, these actions nurtured that little flame in me to grow stronger and stronger.

What was once an empty shell, is now filled with a bright flame that keeps me going more fiercely than ever before. Today happiness is no longer a mere dream, it is a part of everyday life.

The thing is, my approach was flawed. I tried to achieve material gains in the hopes of happiness, instead of finding ways to make my life meaningful and joyous.

It took me many years to understand this. Happiness was not something I could get. Instead, happiness is something that stems from our experiences, actions, and how we look at life.

Happiness is about appreciating the moment and the little things in life. The roof over my head, the warmth of my bed, and the hot cup of coffee on a slow Saturday morning.

It’s the small acts of kindness, compassion, and ways of helping others. It’s the little things we can do to leave our surroundings a tiny bit better than they were before and the connections we make along the way.

It’s the belief that there is good in our lives and the world. It’s about noticing the positive things that often get lost in all the noise around us. And it’s about celebrating all the little wins as we keep going.

It’s about choosing to advocate for our lives instead of sitting in the passenger seat as life passes by. It’s choosing to spread the positivity around us. It’s choosing to find joy in the mundanest of things and create a life we’re excited to live.

Happiness is not found in the treasure chest at the end of the rainbow. Happiness is taking a moment to admire the colors of the rainbow and recognize how amazing the world around us is.

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