Have you noticed how easy it is to complain or be dissatisfied about the things or situations that you wish you had? Have you noticed how it makes you feel weighed down and negative?
This type of emotion can be triggered by something as simple as getting on social media and seeing the lifestyle’s or accomplishments of others. Even if we don’t notice, that type comparison affects us. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. It robs us of not only of our joy, but of our mental strength, energy and the ability to be grateful and in the moment.
I recently read that in the last 15 years they’ve been researching the effects of social media. The research found that “comparing ourselves to people who seem better off than us on social media can result in several negative psychological outcomes. It can be detrimental to our mental health, self-esteem, subjective well-being, and body image,” (Journal Media Psychology)
So, as always noticing and being aware of how we react to what we see, hear or the ways in which we spend our time can either help us or make us feel worse. If Social media makes you feel this way, then practice staying away from it or removing it from your daily practice. Instead change the habit and choose to do something more uplifting and positive with your time. Once you catch yourself feeling distracted or discontented from it, remember to make the change for your own well being.
The reason that practicing contentment is so important for us is because it brings power in the sense that when we’re grateful we feel more calm, peaceful and centered. Contentment also brings a sense of joy for what one possess. Someone who experiences contentment is happy and satisfied but also willing to put forth great effort to move forward toward their goals.
A complacent person on the other hand, is satisfied but puts forth little to no effort to move closer to their goals. Sadly, many people think that contentment is the same thing as complacency. And that is incorrect. We can choose to be content with our circumstances and still willing to move ourselves forward coming from a place of security in ourselves, God and the divine callings and gifts within us to move forward toward the destination that God has for our lives.
There’s a scripture that I love which says;
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:6-9)
I love how he talks about godliness with contentment is great gain. It’s amazing what we can accomplish if we are able to come to God and look for His guidance throughout our lives. Expressing gratitude for what He has given us and moving forward with God as our guide and the security that He gives us.
I also love the reminder of the fact that we brought nothing into the world and will take nothing with us. Sometimes spending our time looking for “more” is something that will only satisfy a temporary comfort. It’s not lasting it’s not of eternal consequence.
Instead, building a relationship with God, will be something that we can take with us. The relationships, the wisdom and the way we use our time on this earth are of greater importance than comparing ourselves to others or trying to compete or “gain more” which can lead us to be distracted from the things of true importance.
So, today I invite you to find power in being content in a Godly way. Disconnect from social media if you have to and instead focus on feeling gratitude for what you’re able to have today.
Remind yourself that you are beautiful inside and out, that you are enough. Allow your possessions to be enough, your home to be enough, your family and friends to be enough.
Embrace the beautiful gift of this moment in time. To simply be in the joy of what you are blessed to have today. To love your life, right where you are at right now, remember that we become hole in our brokenness, in our gratitude and in our acceptance of what is.
The best gift we can give to ourselves is to be in the moment, and to find joy in it. We can give big thanks for what we have, understanding that even the pain, the striving and the smallness that we feel sometimes can allow us to become whole. & It’s because of our creator that we become truly whole and we’re able to understand that we are in his hands and we can let go of the rest. We can realize that we can have contentment and honor him for what He has given us to move forward with faith trusting Him and honoring him.
So, say to yourself today “ I focus on the incredible abundance and beauty that surrounds me now. I accept what is and I don’t judge it or analyze it but instead, I allow gratitude to pour freely over my soul.
I choose to love my life just as it is. Especially as it is, and I celebrate with God the gift of my life.”
Hope that you can feel that power flowing through you today. This is our goal for the week. So hopefully we can choose to invite more of this into our lives and choosing to bring that power into your life daily.
Our physical goal is to let go of sugary drinks for and to move our body each day for at least 30 mins. 🙂
I hope to see you in class tonight at 7pm to strengthen your body, mind and spirit.
Love,
Lili 🌸
