Here’s a question that may determine your ability to lead successfully this year: Are you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty person? I have tendencies toward both. In my leadership, I almost always view the glass as half full. I try to find the positive in every adversity, the opportunity in every failure, and the win just beyond each loss.

But in my private life, the glass is usually half empty. I spend way too much time lamenting the things I cannot change. Whenever things don’t turn out the way I planned or hoped for, I may get sour. I may not even realize it, but it begins to cloud my entire attitude.

Each year, I choose a word, phrase or theme to lead me. This year, I’ve chosen a particular verse to be my theme:

    “This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, ESV).

This year, I choose to be joyful. I know that focusing on rejoicing more, seeing the upside to every downturn, having a positive attitude, and choosing joy are essential to becoming a successful leader, minister and follower of Christ.

Joy Is a Choice

You probably know someone who always seems joyful. If you looked closer, you would likely discover an intentional commitment to live that way. Such joy doesn’t come easily. It’s easy to be happy when things are going your way. It’s much harder to choose joy in the face of difficulties.

You see, happiness is a response to good things happening to us. But joy is a sense of gratitude and elation no matter the circumstances of life. Happiness is a response, but joy is a choice.

James tells his readers who are overcome with suffering, who face persecution and poverty, to consider that suffering “pure joy” (James 1:2). Joy is a never a natural response to tough circumstances; it is a choice. Live your life in a way that produces that type of joy no matter what. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Choosing joy means consistently finding the positive and thanking God for it. It requires looking for the long-term benefits in any short-term crisis. It takes learning that trials can produce perseverance and maturity (James 1:3-4). It takes seeing how those issues that test your patience can produce character and hope (Romans 5:3-5).

When we change our perspective, we put ourselves in position to rejoice no matter what.

Leading With Joy

We talk a lot about church culture at the Church Multiplication Network. I share quite a bit in this weekly column about building strong, healthy churches. But what about your personal culture? How much time and effort did you spend on developing your personal culture last year? Are you making it a priority this year?

When we change our perspective, we put ourselves in position to rejoice no matter what.

When we develop a healthy, balanced personal culture, we are better leaders. And that includes choosing joy. Think about it.

Your personal culture is how others will experience you. What do they experience when they’re in your presence? What is the atmosphere when you go through a test? Do they see a strong leader ready to rally, or do they find a grumpy boss who is disgruntled with how things are turning out?

How you lead yourself will have ripple effects on those you lead. How you view the circumstances around you will either encourage or discourage those you’re leading. How you view other people will rub off on those closest to you. How you view your ministry, your position and your season of life can cause others to get behind you or hide from you.

Joy can transform your perspective. When you choose joy, instead of asking, “Dear God, why did this happen?” you’re asking, “Dear God, how can you use this for your honor and my good?” That type of perspective creates leaders others want to follow.

It’s a Matter of Control

Joy is within our control, but our circumstances aren’t always up to us. We don’t get to choose what will happen to us today. Yet we do get to control how we respond. So, control what you can control.

Whatever is within your grasp, on your task list or within your ability to handle, do that. Don’t let responsibilities pile up. Instead, take advantage of every opportunity.

When things outside of your control come over you, don’t be overcome by them. I know that these things can be painful. Many times, those things that are out of our control are devastating, like a cancer diagnosis, a friend or confidant who walks away from you, a natural disaster that you hadn’t prepared for, or a family member passing away.

It’s not about avoiding the pain but about seeing the pain with the right perspective.

Pain loses its power when it finds purpose. Whatever pain you go through, you can choose to rejoice if you see the purpose behind it. When you keep your own God-given purpose in mind, He will help you pick up the pieces of whatever broke and put them together to keep your path straight.

This year, choose joy. Whenever you begin to think the glass is starting to get a little empty, choose to ask God to fill up the remainder with the joy of the Spirit. Whenever the most natural reaction is to be upset, to get down on yourself or to blame others, choose to find the positive.

Whenever the brokenness of a sinful world seems to overwhelm, choose to find joy in your salvation. Whenever you feel like giving up and throwing in the towel — and you just might feel that way at times this year — choose to find the joy of steadfastly trusting in God. Choose joy.