I was listening to a popular morning talk show on the radio the other day and something someone said struck me (and is still staying with me a week later). When the host asked a caller what he had planned for the day, the caller answered begrudgingly, “Man, they’ve got me drivin’ these trucks.” His answer was dripping with self-pity and resentment of his plight. Immediately and without hesitation, the host chimed in, “Nobody has GOT you doing anything! No one is making you drive that truck with a gun to your head!” To drive his point home the host said, “And by the way, driving trucks is a good job. A lot of people would love to be in your position!” Needless to say, the caller moved on to the reason for the call (a trivial topic if I remember).

The caller’s sentiment is way too often expressed by people who feel they deserve better right now (instant gratification often without the effort), including more pay, easier work, and often less accountability. This way of thinking is especially surprising with the still high unemployment rate.

This thinking is also a recipe for discontent. The first way to change the caller’s situation is to change his attitude. Perhaps a more productive and positive answer could have been, “I’m driving trucks right now. It’s not the best situation for me, but I’m working towards something else and I’m glad to have this job in the meantime.” This is a good example of the key to job happiness.

The key to finding happiness in any job ­– just like finding happiness in life – comes down to one key component: gratitude. It is virtually impossible to find happiness at work, home, or in any aspect of life without the willingness to feel grateful. You may not be in your ideal job, but you will be much better off feeling grateful for your bi-weekly paycheck, 15-minute breaks, your friend in the next cubicle, the new opening for a position in another department, or any silver lining you can find that makes you realize, “You know, my situation could be so much worse and my future is in MY hands.”

Instead of dreading or complaining about your job situation, finding and expressing gratitude for what you do have can not only make you happier in your current job, but in all facets of your life!