When you can’t find a win… Create one

Sometimes joy isn’t something you stumble across—it’s something you create on purpose. Here’s a story about a tiny win, a Friday playlist, and choosing delight in ordinary moments.

Finding Wins in the Ordinary

Sometimes wins are harder to find. Sometimes you have to look for them. Sometimes life leads you into boredom, discontentment, or even a feeling of melancholy. In those moments—when wins are harder to see—it can be necessary to create your win. Reshaping your reality is a crucial part of navigating the now while living for the win.

The Friday Drive That Shifted My Mood

It had been a busy couple of days. I felt exhausted, a little overwhelmed with tasks, and underwhelmed with outcomes. Of course, I always try to remember to count my blessings and be grateful for them, but that particular week, I hadn’t been intentional with my focus and could feel myself slipping into a rut.

It was Friday afternoon, and I was more than ready for the weekend. I opened a recent playlist and headed straight for a feel-good song I had heard earlier that week. It was stuck in my head, so I turned it up loud as I drove home—losing myself in the moment, in the lyrics, in the memories from that two-decade-old tune, and in the vibe of the melody.

For a brief moment, I drifted away, and it felt good. Like a tiny vacation. The weather was perfect for a window-down drive, so I rolled it down and soaked in that little burst of freedom.

It was refreshing. It was fun. It separated the workweek from the long-awaited weekend. I found myself using that afternoon drive vibe as a transition into weekend mode. The simplicity of that feeling was something I immediately wanted to share, so I grabbed my phone, opened my video app, and began to message a friend.

Sharing Joy With a Friend

Now this was a moment. And it mattered. Not just anyone would get it. I chose a friend I knew would understand. She was a music lover and a special kind of fun—but more than that, she was a “go-to.” The thick-and-thin kind. Someone I can pray with, laugh with, cry with, or rant to. The no-judgment kind that lets you just be yourself.

I sent the message—window down, singing along, telling her how much I loved the song and (only half-jokingly) insisting she agree with me. I knew she would get it—and she did. She jumped right into the vibe with laughter, understanding, and her own nostalgia tied to the melody.

My mood shifted. Gratitude rose. The negativity faded.

Creating a Mini Tradition

Over the next few days, I kept thinking back to that drive and the music vibe and how light I had felt because of it. I realized I could recreate that feeling even more intentionally, so I devised a little plan and shared it with my go-to friend—knowing all too well she’d be up for a game. We created a playlist called Friday’s Drive Vibe.

During the week we would each add a song that captured what we wanted for Friday-afternoon energy and reveal them on Friday morning. In addition, we would commit to listening to them on our drive home. It’s simple. It doesn’t take much effort. But the win is real. The small joy, the friendship, and the fun little ritual are priceless.

Perspective and Joy from Scripture

What I didn’t realize, in the moment, was that even a simple Friday drive could shift my heart in a meaningful way. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” That doesn’t mean we get everything we want—rather, it’s about navigating the now by training our hearts to notice the good around us… to find joy in ordinary moments, and to stay focused on what is good, pure, and lovely while trusting His promises. By leaning into those small joys—the music, the nostalgia, the laughter with a friend—I had intentionally created a little escape in the middle of a hectic week.

And that’s when it clicked for me—this wasn’t just a random burst of fun. It lined up with what Scripture teaches.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This reminds me that perspective matters—that God reminds us to shift our focus toward joy instead of getting stuck in the heaviness around us. Our little weekly drive-vibe song game, and the connection that comes with it, has helped me redirect my attention and stay joyful by navigating the now with intention. That new strategy of fun didn’t just lift my mood for a moment—it became something to look forward to each week. A small, meaningful win that reminded me I get to participate in my own happiness.

Your Turn: Create a Win

Sometimes, navigating the now means creating the win yourself—and this little habit has become one of mine.

This week, if you can’t find your win, take a moment to reflect and ponder and try to create one! Choose a tiny win, nurture it, celebrate it, and watch how even the simplest moments can turn a ho-hum day into a “Living for the Win” kind of day.