A while ago I wrote an entire post on my “Top 20 Things to Love About Living in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.”
One reason I wrote this was because I really have grown to love this place! But partially it’s a reminder.
A reminder to myself…to be thankful.
Last fall I was meeting with a friend, and she mentioned one way to combat discontentment is to make a thankfulness journal, to remind yourself of all the things God has blessed you with.
Thankfulness…our culture pushes us women to practice plenty of self-empowerment, creativity, personal development, and positivity.
But THANKFULNESS?
What if I’m in a season of life where I just don’t have the capacity for self-improvement?
Will I then feel unsatisfied, unfulfilled, lesser than, discontent and full of self-pity?
What if our personal development had more to do with having peace, joy, and contentment–even when there isn’t one single thing in your life worth posting on social media for the world to see?
Contentment.
It really does go hand-in-hand with being thankful. If I constantly focus on what I don’t have, if I am always thinking of the next best thing, I will always feel like I am lacking. But you know what combats feeling like you are lacking?
Contentment.
I was reading this morning in 1 Timothy 6 and came across verse 6:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
A person who is content is at peace with what she has. She doesn’t need more or a different situation to be happy (unlike the one who is discontent-they still need more and more and probably will never be happy). That does not mean you cannot buy things you would like, be ambitious, or pursue dreams.
But maybe we all need to adjust our perspectives. Do you see the best in your situation, or can you only notice what your friends have and you do not- their better community, house, job, body, husband, husband’s job, children, children’s education, vacation, social life, spiritual life…the list could go on but you get the point.
We are constantly pushed to be unsatisfied. What does that result in? Gaining the life you always dreamed? Or feeling depressed and burnt out? Mental health has become a very popular term, but maybe so many people struggle with it because of the world’s message to never be content.
So do something about it! Start the new year (we are still in January folks!) by getting off of social media for a while (but hey, I’m glad you stopped by My Hive to hear my musings!) and start your own list of what you are thankful for.
P.S. If you need ideas, check our my list here of what I love about Fort Bragg!
I hope it inspires you.
Paula sprunger says
Thank you HeiDi. This is slways a needed rdminder. Godliness with Contentment is a Win win.
Kim C says
thank you for the reminder to be content and focus on the good!