When I think of the word contentment or the act of being content, what comes to mind is that of a freshly changed and fed baby. They are either cooing or are fast asleep, often with a peaceful smile. As we get older that sense of happy tranquility begins to be replaced with restlessness, lack of fulfillment, and the uncomfortable feeling of always wanting more; never satisfied. Have you ever wondered why? Perhaps you already know the answers to that question.
Do we really know what contentment is? Often times we equate it to having stuff. If I have a bigger house, a better job, a nicer spouse, a kid or two, then I may be a bit more satisfied with life. Perhaps we still struggle with seeing ourselves as inferior because we’re hung up in the comparison game. We start to focus on our flaws because we center our attention on this person’s educational background or work experience and fall short. Maybe we’ve become a bit green with our friend who has the perfect husband who dotes on her, and is at her beck and call. Have you ever stepped back and observed these people? Are they really happy?
How do you view yourself?
The reality of living is that happiness is not based on stuff. The source of happiness is in combining the right balance of the perception of you, not to others, but to yourself. You cannot have the right picture of who you are if you don’t understand how God views you. The value of you cannot be reinforced in your mind if you do not understand the price of salvation. The awareness of always living in expectation can never be heightened if you do not understand the principle of being able to do all things. To put it in the simplest terms, You are who God says you are. Once you embrace that right mind-set, contentment becomes a product or the effect, as in ripple.
Ever wondered how certain people seem to be happy or satisfied with their lives even when faced with adversities that would knock most of us off of our feet? It is not because they’re lucky or have been graced by the stars. It is because they made a choice of stepping into right-thinking. Now some of you may say I don’t need God to think I’m a wonderful person. You may measure yourself by your successes. What if all the success you’ve achieved and your present status was removed or taken away from you? What if you’ve become a yesterday and the things that you did were no longer recognized because someone else surpassed your accomplishments? Where in the contentment-pole would you be?
Are you satisfied?
Contentment is a state of being. It is a place inside of you, where no matter what circumstance you’re in, you choose to be satisfied. Being satisfied is actually feeling pleasure from gratification. It means having a thankful heart, no matter what you have or don’t have. It does not provide the excuse or the permission for anyone to stay within their present circumstance or not want to better themselves. It does, however, push a person to look at what they have and be grateful for all they’ve achieved and obtained.
When was the last time you looked around and began to count the blessings that you have? Okay so your husband is not so and so, and he is not perfect, but who is? Instead of focusing on all the bad, have you looked at the good and voiced it? How many times do we say our teenagers are driving us crazy or are a pain, some times at ear range? When was the last time you told them they were wonderful or I love you? Look around you. How much stuff have you accumulated? Maybe it’s not in the greatest condition, but have you ever stopped to think of those who do not even have a floor and are lucky to have a roof?
Where are you dwelling?
It’s not a bad thing to want more or to want to exceed in any area of life. However, more and more you’ll find that when the focus is just that, when we are driven because we constantly compare, and are not grateful or satisfied with what we have, we rob ourselves of living. We miss out on the joy of dwelling in our blessings. Unfortunately, at times, it takes the kids growing up, tragedy knocking at our door, or illness overtaking us or those we love, for us to have an aha moment. What is life really all about? It’s about living it to the fullest, in all aspects, and enjoying it; inside and out.
Most of us kind of fall into contentment during life’s journey. We stumble into that state of being and catch ourselves asking how we got there. We finally realize that it’s not about the stuff, but it’s about being thankful for all the things we have, the people we love, and most importantly who we are in the mix. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to create the perfect life and environment, and forget we’re in an imperfect world.
The Choice
Contentment is the result of choice. It is the end product of right-thinking, a grateful heart, understanding the value of you, and living in expectation for the better. These are biblical principles and guidelines for healthy living. Falling into contentment is a good thing, but walking into it now, sooner than later, is so much better.
Do we really know what contentment is? Often times we equate it to having stuff. If I have a bigger house, a better job, a nicer spouse, a kid or two, then I may be a bit more satisfied with life. Perhaps we still struggle with seeing ourselves as inferior because we’re hung up in the comparison game. We start to focus on our flaws because we center our attention on this person’s educational background or work experience and fall short. Maybe we’ve become a bit green with our friend who has the perfect husband who dotes on her, and is at her beck and call. Have you ever stepped back and observed these people? Are they really happy?
How do you view yourself?
The reality of living is that happiness is not based on stuff. The source of happiness is in combining the right balance of the perception of you, not to others, but to yourself. You cannot have the right picture of who you are if you don’t understand how God views you. The value of you cannot be reinforced in your mind if you do not understand the price of salvation. The awareness of always living in expectation can never be heightened if you do not understand the principle of being able to do all things. To put it in the simplest terms, You are who God says you are. Once you embrace that right mind-set, contentment becomes a product or the effect, as in ripple.
Ever wondered how certain people seem to be happy or satisfied with their lives even when faced with adversities that would knock most of us off of our feet? It is not because they’re lucky or have been graced by the stars. It is because they made a choice of stepping into right-thinking. Now some of you may say I don’t need God to think I’m a wonderful person. You may measure yourself by your successes. What if all the success you’ve achieved and your present status was removed or taken away from you? What if you’ve become a yesterday and the things that you did were no longer recognized because someone else surpassed your accomplishments? Where in the contentment-pole would you be?
Are you satisfied?
Contentment is a state of being. It is a place inside of you, where no matter what circumstance you’re in, you choose to be satisfied. Being satisfied is actually feeling pleasure from gratification. It means having a thankful heart, no matter what you have or don’t have. It does not provide the excuse or the permission for anyone to stay within their present circumstance or not want to better themselves. It does, however, push a person to look at what they have and be grateful for all they’ve achieved and obtained.
When was the last time you looked around and began to count the blessings that you have? Okay so your husband is not so and so, and he is not perfect, but who is? Instead of focusing on all the bad, have you looked at the good and voiced it? How many times do we say our teenagers are driving us crazy or are a pain, some times at ear range? When was the last time you told them they were wonderful or I love you? Look around you. How much stuff have you accumulated? Maybe it’s not in the greatest condition, but have you ever stopped to think of those who do not even have a floor and are lucky to have a roof?
Where are you dwelling?
It’s not a bad thing to want more or to want to exceed in any area of life. However, more and more you’ll find that when the focus is just that, when we are driven because we constantly compare, and are not grateful or satisfied with what we have, we rob ourselves of living. We miss out on the joy of dwelling in our blessings. Unfortunately, at times, it takes the kids growing up, tragedy knocking at our door, or illness overtaking us or those we love, for us to have an aha moment. What is life really all about? It’s about living it to the fullest, in all aspects, and enjoying it; inside and out.
Most of us kind of fall into contentment during life’s journey. We stumble into that state of being and catch ourselves asking how we got there. We finally realize that it’s not about the stuff, but it’s about being thankful for all the things we have, the people we love, and most importantly who we are in the mix. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to create the perfect life and environment, and forget we’re in an imperfect world.
The Choice
Contentment is the result of choice. It is the end product of right-thinking, a grateful heart, understanding the value of you, and living in expectation for the better. These are biblical principles and guidelines for healthy living. Falling into contentment is a good thing, but walking into it now, sooner than later, is so much better.
