Practicing Contentment: Appreciate what you have
Start with what you have
Practicing Contentment truly takes effort. One of the easiest ways to put this into practice is by using what you have. I think it’s so important that we use the things that we already have for one main reason: It’s practicing contentment. Another way of saying this is being in a state of Satisfaction of where you are.
Being “content” is simply being satisfied with what you have right where you are. Practicing satisfaction can be as simple as making the most of your circumstances, and appreciating what you have. That’s what practicing contentment is all about.
Here’s a definition via Merriam-Webster.com:
Contented (adjective) : feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation
Merriam-Webster.com
Practicing Contentment: Being real
Scripture says that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1Timothy 6:6). Comparison can suck the life right out of a Contented attitude, and it’s a hindrance to our own satisfaction. If we’re constantly comparing and wishing we had something different than what we have, we’re not content with what we [actually] have.
If we’re honest; what we have [even if what we have is challenging] is still a blessing. That same chapter in 1 Timothy says, “for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.” 1Timothy 6:7
So, I think it’s important to show exactly where we start. We can edit things and make them look like we’re professionals, not that we shouldn’t do things to the best of our ability and produce great work. However, I think that showing reality is extremely important for us for many reasons. One of the reasons is to see our growth and where we started. I like seeing results and I believe most people do. Seeing where I persevered keeps me moving forward.
When we continue what we’re doing we see our growth but not only that. People that are just starting out on their own journey can see that everyone starts somewhere.
Practicing Contentment: Start where you are
I believe that most of us are not just experts right out of the gate! Even people that are born with natural Talent must practice and challenge themselves to get better. There is a form of muscle building in your gifts and talents that take time, and effort to grow and mature.
So, I want to encourage and challenge you while I’m [also] challenging myself. Be encouraged to just start where you are, do the best with what you have, and just know that growth happens over time.
Growth Happens over Time
I remember years ago when I first started making jewelry. The pieces I made were created mostly for myself, and some pieces were given away as gifts. The creative process is something I have enjoyed my entire life and creating jewelry was a Creative Outlet. I remember making beaded earrings with my Mom and older sister at the kitchen table in Queens, NY when I was a kid. When I was in the 3rd grade I joined a sewing club after school and made pillows.
Practicing Contentment: Use your abilities they are a gift
I’ve always loved doing things with my hands and just creating something that I could wear. When I was 15 years old, I was gifted a sewing machine and I would take any money that I had to go and purchase the cheapest yards of fabric that I could find. Immediately after the school bell rang, I headed to the fashion district in Manhattan.
I was so excited about the gift that I received, and I wasn’t concerned with perfection. Making something unique was my focus and using my hands to do it was the best part.
I think it’s interesting that that youthful not knowing what I’m doing approach to things was fun. When the focus is the work itself its way more enjoyable. The last thing on my mind was what anyone else would think because I wasn’t producing it for anyone else at that time.
I guess you could say I was “contented” even before I really knew what that meant. I was so excited to just have the ability to make something. It’s a blessing looking back because my 15-year-old self understood contentment better than my older self currently does at times.
Comparison kills contentment
This is one of the main reasons why we shouldn’t compare. We all come with different talents, different abilities, and different gifts. If I compare your work to mine, I’m focused more on what mine isn’t than what mine [actually] is.
If I am coveting your work, I will allow that to influence what I’m doing and now I’m in competition as opposed to creating because I love it. We can’t compare our beginning to someone else’s middle or their end. We can’t compare Our Lives to someone else’s because we live different lives, we’re different people, and we have different circumstances.
Some years ago, I was rocking my earrings, and someone asked if I could make them some. Then Boom just like that my jewelry business began! My Etsy Shop is still going well after all these years! That would have never happened if I wasn’t already creating, and enjoying the process.
I was so excited to be making something for someone and I appreciated that they liked my designs enough to purchase jewelry from me! Not only was I excited, I felt honored because I wasn’t going after making a sale. I was just doing what I naturally did at that point and someone noticed.
Compare your own work
When I look back on that now and where I started, I am so glad I documented and took pictures of some of my first earrings. Honestly, when I look at them now, I think they’re terrible. They’re not terrible because I didn’t work hard at it. It’s terrible in comparison to my own growth, and where I am NOW! So, let’s do that!
Let’s compare our own work, to our own growth as opposed to someone else’s.
Let’s compare our own work, to our own growth as opposed to someone else’s. That’s when we have a realistic view, and that’s when we can continue doing what we love! I wrote about the distraction of looking at someone else’s work in this post.
Perfectionism is not something that’s sustainable or life-giving in my opinion. There have been too many things that I did not do or did not start because I felt that it wasn’t perfect. This approach caused me to ask the question. “How does God Trust us with more if we don’t appreciate what we already have?! If we don’t appreciate our small start and our Small Beginnings, why should we be trusted with more?
Start right now
On the other hand, what’s there to grow into if we arrived immediately? If we get to that place of “perfection,” or “mastery” immediately; what the heck is left to work towards?
This is to Encourage you to start right now, right where you are, with what you have. Be willing to grow and be willing to put in the effort and the time it takes to grow. It’s beautiful to get to the place where you can look back and say, “I’m glad I started when I did.” I have so many regrets of not doing so many things.
In retrospect I see that I can focus on all that was left UN-attempted or allow the feeling of regret to motivate me to move forward. Because I don’t want to feel the would a-could a-should a regrets.
Practicing Contentment: Just start somewhere
Practice being content by appreciating what you already have. Don’t let fear or doubt get in the way of starting Right Now, Today! For instance if you want to be a great Chef practice with the ingredients you have now until you can work with more challenging ingredients.
If you’re an Artist work with the paint you can afford right now. If you want to design Jewelry start with the beads that you can find right now. I literally started with a spool of cord, 50 beads and one pair of needle nose pliers.
If you want to be a Makeup Artist start trying different techniques on your own face. Start by using the products you already own until you can build your collection. Enlist your friends, or family members to be your models. Do your friends makeup or apply your Mom’s makeup.
Just start somewhere!
Practicing Contentment
If you’re on a weight loss journey start with just keeping track of the calories you’re eating. Keep a food journal and start with small goals like drinking more water and eating more vegetables. The gym may not be a good option if you can’t get to it or if you can’t afford it. If you can’t afford a gym membership right now find some free videos on YouTube and do workouts in your living room. This is literally what I do, and if you are consistent it works!
Work with what you have and don’t worry about the resources that you don’t have…. Yet! You may be in a different position to gain more resources in the future.
Practicing Contentment: It’s bigger than you think
Look at Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, and Bill Gates they did some incredible things. When I see all the talent and amazing abilities some people have I am amazed. We are all Blessed by their contributions. Aren’t you glad and grateful for all the people that started somewhere and didn’t quit?!
The journey that you start may be part of the steps that someone else takes later. Because they watched someone start and walk forward it encouraged them to do so themselves.
I truly believe that our lives are bigger than ourselves and it’s not all about us. We can get so singularly focused on the here and now that we forget someone will walk behind us.
The work we do will have an impact on someone, and prayerfully our impact is for the kingdom of God. Someone will look to Christ and see that all the good that was in US was not us at all but it was Him. Our lives, and the works we do may be directing people to who He is, and to who Our Father in heaven is.
Start enjoying the process, allow God to direct you. Practice being Content in whatever place you are currently in.
Being Satisfied in the Sufficiency of Christ will literally change your Life!
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Scripture Reference can be found here: 1Timothy 6:6
Definition found here: Contented
