The Art of Contentedness.
We are creatures of… not being content.
It all started in preschool, for most of us.
You wanted the red scissors during craft time. They were clearly the best option. But once you got them and you saw how cool the purple was, you weren’t very happy with your choice. So the next time, you chose purple, but realized that you actually wanted the blue ones… And so on.
It’s not easy to be honest with ourselves about not being content because we are already living in a state of “future contentedness.” I’m not sure if that phrase makes much sense, but I think of it as describing this statement:
“I’ll be happy when ____.”
When I live in this type of apartment/house/etc., then I’ll be happy!
When I have this much money, then I’ll feel happier!
When I live here, then I’ll be good to go!
We are always chasing the next thing, because we always think that the next thing is somehow going to fulfill us more than what we currently have. And I’m not going to be naive here; some things ARE better and some things ARE more helpful. I truly think that your atmosphere can play a big role in your mental health, as can the people you surround yourself with, etc. I’m not going to say that finally getting out of a toxic friend group, for example, isn’t going to make you happier, because it likely will. I am talking a little bit more basic here in an effort to explain that if we cannot be content now, we might not ever be.
Being content is an art. It requires practice, patience, and conscious effort. It requires understanding that everything God has given us is a blessing, and that none of it is truly necessary except for Him.
So, in an effort to create a more content mindset, I challenge you to do this:
Each and every morning, write down 3 things that you are grateful for. I know that it sounds cliche, but there’s a reason for this tip’s popularity! By writing down a few things that you are grateful for in the morning, your brain will be more likely to attend to these thoughts throughout the day, and you’ll find yourself noticing more and more things that you’re grateful for. Think coffee, fresh air, morning sunlight, your family, your friends, or your yummy breakfast.
Being content will make you feel… Well, a lot more content! Wanting more will never make you feel happy because you’re in a self-imposed state of deprivation. If you are content, however, you will already feel that you have everything that you need.
<3
