Maybe its a personality characteristic or something in all of us that creates this need to strive for more or have some sort of thing accomplished.
We get married, we have children, we buy a house, and then we need to have that next perfect job or next perfect car.... always something more.
Are we content to just "be"?
I have a feeling it could be generational. My grandparents have been just "being" for years now. They are content to live in the house they are in, content with the things they have, the relationships they maintain. They are happy, content people. I think their belief in God enables them to be that way...
When we depend so much on ourselves, we're never good enough. We need to lose weight, get smarter, spend more (or less)... we're always perfecting.
Can we be content to be who we are?
Personally, this is a huge struggle for me. If I'm not moving forward in some way, I feel like I'm failing. Obviously, some of this is healthy and good and we are meant to strive for things but taken to the extreme, we can make ourselves miserable.
Maybe when our focus is purely on ourselves is when this happens.
If we look at life as living to serve others and God, we will be happy.
That boring job becomes a way to show coworkers/clients/bosses kindness and love. The small cramped apartment becomes a home and not an place to be upgraded. The everyday daily annoyances of life reveal to us our weakness. When we look outside of ourselves, we see that there is much more room to strive towards things that will truly make a difference
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Phil 4:11
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa
I think for all of us, especially mothers, this needs to start at HOME.
Our closest relationships, our spouses and children, should be full of LOVE, gentleness, forgiveness and respect. By modeling this for our children, they will turn around and love those around them. That is TRULY making a difference.
If our homes are not respectful, loving places to be, how can we reflect love to others? How can we teach our children to be content and grateful for what they have without being content ourselves?
Very well said honey. this quote has helped me in the area of contentment at work. also, knowing that it's the little acts of kindness that are more powerful than we can imagine.
ReplyDeleteHELEN KELLER:
"I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker."