Contentment. This is probably the hardest thing for me, to be content. I feel it is okay at times to "not be satisfied" but we should be content. I often feel the tension of what I want, or where I want to be vs where I am, which isn't where I want to be ... at least how I had it in my mind.
Here are some key areas to look at from time to time, see if you can relate.
Defining what is Success - What is success in your mind? What does it look like, feel like, etc. This is what I really had to work on; deciding, or knowing, what is "success" for me. I realized, I was and am very successful. For me, loving God, having a wonderful wife, good son, health, food to eat, roof over my head, a career I love, and friends to share it all with ... that was and is success for me. All the other stuff are side issues.
Defining what is Important - That can be difficult at times. It means defining your value system in life. Once I defined this for me it made all the difference. What’s important to you?
Enjoying the Journey - so what’s the point if I am only going to be happy, or content, "when I get there", wherever that is? The journey is the longest portion of life. The destination is what we spend our life heading toward. To enjoy the journey is to enjoy all of life.
The issue of Comparing - I am not on your journey. I am on my journey ... so it doesn't matter about them, what they got, what they did, or where they are - it's about being where God wants me, doing what He wants me doing. But sometimes I still compare way too much! :(
Dictionary: Contentment is the experience of satisfaction and being at ease in one's situation.
How about you? Do you struggle with these areas? Are you in a state of contentment?
1 comment:
Dear Phil,
It's great to see it mapped out like this. I know this will be helpful to your readers. We seem to be tracking again as I've been blogging this from a creative writer-artist's perspective. We're both talking about meaningful fulfillment and recognizing there's a "process" involved. I like to get very practical, because I think that's what helps people most. And I think that's why your blog is so good. You write about spiritual things, meaningful things, but in ways that readers can hold onto and use. This post is an example of your usual solid, positive approach. Thank you, peace, and continued good things for you, Dear Heart.
Sincerely,
Diane
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