Oh the gloriousness of a fresh new year… a blank slate!
So many goals, resolutions, and aspirations.
So many things we want to change.
Maybe this is the year you’re finally going to:
- put more into your savings account
- pay off debt
- lose those last 10 (or 50) pounds
- start eating healthier
- join a gym and actually go each week
- get more organized
- better manage your time
- start up the business you’ve talked about for years
- finally ask for that promotion at work
- heal a broken relationship
- start (or finish) a big home renovation
- revamp your wardrobe
- simplify your beauty routine
- get more involved in your church or school
- start up a local charity
- volunteer more
I’m sure you have a long list!
These are all fantastic goals and aspirations… I certainly do NOT want to deter you from working towards fulfilling something you feel very passionate about.
However, before we get too carried away making all sorts of changes and “improvements”, I’d like to encourage you to stop and note at least 5 things you are currently very content with.
What do you do really well?
What do you love about your life?
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What are your favorite physical features?
What space in your home gives you the most joy?
What (or who) makes you happiest each day?
What is one thing you definitely do NOT want to change?
What area of your life are you completely satisfied with?
.
With all the busyness of the holiday season — trying to make an appearance at every event, buying the “perfect” gifts, sending color-coordinated Christmas cards, making the most appetizing meals, hosting the best parties — followed by the pressure of making the most ambitious New Years resolutions or setting the most impressive goals, it can be easy to lose sight of everything we have to be thankful and grateful for.
Consider today’s post a little exercise in contentment that will hopefully help you to destress, relax, slow down, regroup, and feel satisfied with yourself today (and moving forward) instead of only thinking of everything you want to change or improve.
There is plenty of time for change and improvement this year (I fully encourage you to push forward with your goals) but for today, just take a deep breath and enjoy anything you are perfectly content with right now.
Even if you can only think of 5 teeny tiny things, it’s nice to know we are content with something!
I realize many of the thoughts floating around in your head right now might be very personal — but if there’s something you’d like to share (or just put in writing) feel free to leave it in the comments!
What are YOU most content with right now?
Ofelia says
Andrea, thanks for this post. I really appreciate it because I need this kind of “pay attention” alert. I never stop to think about those thinks I have and enjoy every day, or every other day, because I give it for granted. No more. Right now I really am content for many things. Thats for sure. Greetings form México.
Andrea says
you’re very welcome!!
Bonnie'sMama says
The best gift of 2018 was my fourth child. He is round and fat and big-eyed and peaceful and voracious. He wakes me up at night. He gives me big, wet kisses. He chuckles so joyously when I nuzzle him. He wakes up happy every day. He watches my face and has so many beautiful expressions flickering across his face as we interact. He communicates so clearly in baby language that it’s much easier to know what he needs than any other of the many children I’ve cared for. I blessed him with peace and serenity before he was born, and he is so peace-filled.
If he had been my first, I would have been an insufferable, know-it-all mom. Since he’s my fourth, I know what a wonderful and rare gift he is!
Of the many good gifts in my life at the moment, this dear little boy is what I am most content with.
Andrea says
awwww…. yes, he sounds like my Clara — so sweet and SO easy-going. I would have been exactly as you said “an insufferable, know-it-all mom” if Clara had been my first. Now, I know to just enjoy it!
Glad you have that too!
Hannah Beth Reid says
This is a wonderful idea! Thank you!
Wendy says
This is a wonderful thought, Andrea. Just being content with what you have. Your kids are so cute. I love your posts.
Andrea says
Thanks so much Wendy!
Debbie Sanders says
Thank you for keeping me grounded!
Andrea says
ah… you are welcome 🙂
JJ says
The kids are SO cute!!! Look at that snowman!!! These pictures are priceless!!! I know this post was about contentment, but one of the things you mentioned was a goal of weight loss and eating healthier. Your post about you losing 60 pounds really inspired me!!! I’ve already lost 17 pounds since mid-December. My doctor put me on a strict diet, and I’m suppose to consume all my food within 6 hours because of my insulin issues(I have PCOS). At first I thought that was crazy. If I eat breakfast at 9AM, I need to have eaten dinner by 3PM. I have gotten down to 6-9 hours. It has done wonders! What I eat affects my sugar levels, which affects hormones. I was having some crazy health issues. And your post got me to think outside the box(vegetables for breakfast, etc.). I only follow 3 blogs. And I’m content with that!!! Yours is one of them, and I love how you find what works for you and your family in each stage and season and keep looking forward. You have a great attitude and perspective. And you give people like me “permission” to do things I’m not confident to do because of fear of criticism. Thank you for doing what you do!!!
Andrea says
Wow — this is awesome. 17 pounds in a month!!!
That does seem “different” to need to eat all your food within 6 hours — are you hungry when you go to bed? You must be starved when you wake up!
I’m still loving my veggies for breakfast — I’ve come up with SO many creative ways to implement this (yesterday, we had butternut squash/oat pancakes with veggie quiche — the kids gobbled it up!)
Thanks for sharing your story, and for your positive words of encouragement!
JJ says
OoooOooo,I will be looking for your pancake recipe! You know, I haven’t done many days for just 6 hours, but by eating most of my calories within 6-9 hours I actually go to bed full and wake up okay. I start working early(5:30AM), and I normally start eating around 8/9. I try to go as late as I can. I drink a lot of water before. I have also been studying how the Chinese eat. They consume noodles and rice every day. But like you half of their meal is vegetables and they almost always have hot liquid in the form of a soup for most meals. My grandma had hot tea with each meal. It really aids with digestion. So I’ve been trying to have hot tea with my meals. I think I read that the hot liquid breaks down the nutrients so your body can absorb what you eat. So you end up less hungry. The same is true with water. It is better to consume at room temperature than cold. That was hard for me at first. And sometimes for a “treat” I drink ice water. Haha!
Andrea says
Interestingly enough, I actually met someone just yesterday who is also doing the same thing and eating all their foods within 6 hours (they don’t eat until NOON and basically just eat lunch and dinner).
Glad it seems to be working for you!!
Jen says
I was just sitting here this morning telling my husband how wonderful today is! It is absolutely DUMPING snow outside, but we have no place we have to be plus a cozy home to stay in, complete with our last child at home, sleeping pets, a fireplace with a lovely fire, burning candles flickering on the cabinet, & soup cooking in the crockpot. What an absolutely lovely day. I am so incredibly content.
Andrea says
oh good — glad you got to enjoy a nice day at home!
Marva says
Thank you so much for guiding us to this perspective! I’m content with my car. I spent all day yesterday shopping for and purchasing a nicer car than mine to replace my very elderly mom’s car that was totaled in an accident (not her fault!). Even though I will undoubtedly ‘inherit’ that car someday, I realized that I’m totally content with my current car. Of course, I’m hoping my mom is able to keep driving her new car forever!
Andrea says
You know what… I am too!
Just last week, we had an opportunity to buy basically our exact same van in a much newer model and we ALMOST took it. However, I just didn’t want to go through the hassle of selling our van, changing insurance information, and getting used to a new-to-us vehicle when I’m perfectly content with our older model van!
Leanne says
Thank you for sharing this! I was struggling to find contentment and realized I’m happy with my safe, boring, reliable car! ❤️
Catherine says
What a lovely post Andrea and a welcome reminder to breath and be grateful.
Thank you. 🙂
Chris says
Oops. I realized I didn’t complete my thought regarding my gloves, and it was a very disjointed comment. I actually had two thoughts. One was regarding gratitude and the other was thinking of things that I own that I really enjoy, one of which is my gloves. Boy, sorry about that!
Andrea says
haha — I totally understood your comment. NO need to explain!
LYNN GRABLE says
Love this Andrea! Thank you so much! We need to remember to enjoy our accomplishments.
Have an awesome day!
Andrea says
you’re welcome Lynn 🙂
Chris says
This is so wonderful. I have started a new habit this year of keeping a gratitude journal. The other day I was realizing how much I love my leather gloves, which I have had for a few years. It really helps your perspective too with difficult issues. When your spouse or kid or other person in your life is doing something that you get upset about, you can think of something they do that is good, etc. (We all have both positive and negative qualities – that helps focus on the positive).