Photo by Nishanth Jois on Flickr
There is power behind contentment. Not an overt power that seeks to control, but an inner power that says I’m ok with who I am. This kind of power seeks to serve, seeks to make a difference, seeks to make the world a better place.
It starts with contentment. John Maxwell, in his video series “A Minute with Maxwell”, mentions that contentment is a stabilizer for success.
Contentment is the ability to know who you are, accept who you are. It’s the ability to appreciate who you are and value where you are in the journey.
Contentment values where you are in the journey. Discontentment doesn’t. Instead of seeing how far we’ve come, discontentment makes us strive to get to the next point in our journey – only to arrive there and start the cycle over of striving to get to the next point beyond that. Contentment values where I am now. Contentment enjoys the moment.
Contentment gives you the energy and strength to continue the journey. Contentment is an inner strength combined with a peace and a knowing that I’m on my way. It’s fuel for the journey.
Discontentment keeps you moving, but not necessarily moving well. Discontentment can be a great motivator, but it can also be a huge distraction. Discontentment tends to breed anxiety. Instead of moving forward, we find ourselves on rabbit trails going nowhere.
Contentment is a security based within you that allows you to know who you are, where you are going and the path you want to take.
How’s your contentment quota? What helps you be content?
13/12/2011 at 3:43 am Permalink
This is a great article. Being thankful helps us to be contented. I can’t say that I am 100% contented … maybe slightly closed. But I am only human and still learning my ways.
I hope you don’t mind that I have shared this on my FB page at The Joy of Living Deliberately. Thank you.
15/12/2011 at 7:24 am Permalink
Wenny -
Yes. I agree. Being thankful helps us be content. Thanks for the reminder.
And, thanks for sharing this on FB!