Being Content
Hey Friend,
Well, the holidays are over. This past week we all returned to office and focused solely on the work at hand. The buzz of the new year, the excitement of gift giving and the frenzy of baking, baking, baking has concluded. Settling back into our normal routines is both a familiar pattern and a relief from the heightened stress of creating the perfect scenario for our families to engage in.
I was fortunate enough to get to speak at two different events this week. One in Stillwater Oklahoma and the other right here in Minneapolis. At OSU I got to set up a "book table." Monica already had some books for the launch party so she brought them to the event. It was cool to see the book out in public like that.
With both the new year and the book, I have this feeling of "let's get on with it." But at the exact same time I have a sense of relishing the moment, because as you know, I'll never have this moment again. I'll never have a January 2026. I'll never have another FIRST book launch. I'll never be in this same place of life. Why would I want to pass through it quickly?
Human nature I suppose. Do you find yourself longing for a future reality while just going through the motions of the current one? Or maybe it's not even a desirable future we aspire towards, just an accelerated exit from our present day. Yet, don't we also have moments - maybe even just a few weeks ago - where we thought "I want time to stand-still and live in THIS moment forever."
CONTENT
When I began doing a word of the month, the first couple years started with a version of the word CONTENT. It's not a passive settling, but a deep place of gratitude mixed with big expectations and a willingness to both wait and work hard. It's not so much a zen state of hovering outside of life, but an active engagement in the minute-by-minute, moment-by-moment offering that life affords us - valuing sacredly the movement and stillness that appear and disappear with little warning.
It's a tricky disposition to retain. We are creatures of control and especially here in America we are tasked with a life of making things happen. Even the word "content" can be viewed or misconstrued as a weak-willed giving up on achievement. It's not. It's actually the ultimate advantage for accomplishment because it enables us to enjoy each step of the journey.
MINDSHIFT
What if you aspired to achieve contentment over accomplishment? How different would your daily actions look?
BE PATIENT
The friction I've encountered in my quest for contentedness is the baked-in patience it requires. Impatience is the enemy of contentment. Yet who has ever liked hearing the words "be patient." I typically find it insulting because the person uttering such a phrase must lack urgency, an understanding of importance or flat out doesn't want to excel at the level I do. Ha!
Equating patience with slow and achievement with fast is a hindrance. Contentment reminds us that the speed of fruition doesn't equate to the quality of fulfillment. It might even diminish it. As many can attest, goal attainment may actually be a hollow experience creating more disappointment than satisfaction.
MINDSHIFT
What if the dreams of your heart were most fully realized when your pace of pursuit was measured by the metric of contentment?
PRODUCTIVE
The inaccurate interpretation of inactivity attached to these ideas is what kept me at a distance. However, I've realized the most content people are the most productive. They aren't burdened by poisonous pressure, failure fear or others opinions. Confidence blossoms from contentedness not because the outcome is assured but because our sense of self is.
Contentment enables a peaceful joy in expectations.
Satisfaction of the soul is no small feat. It cannot be attained by acquiring, accomplishing or achieving. Only through relationships can we experience such a supernatural sensation.
That's one reason after a few conversations this week we've decided to add a virtual option to the book launch party. It's going to be an open zoom room, just like back in the days of COVID when I kept office hours. You can drop in, take a look, say Hi to whoever is near the computer and hang around as long as you like.
Here is the zoom link you can put in your calendar:
https://zoom.us/j/95218983490?pwd=tTvdKg2McMCwXCF8hQ4azxwsQH6NqB.1
Meeting ID: 952 1898 3490 Passcode: 367778
SINCERELY, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO STOP BY!! Around 6:30p CST I'll be saying a few words. The event is Wednesday, January 21st, 5:30-7:30p CST.
SHIFTING
I hope this week as you navigate all the challenges and aspirations you consciously incorporate a component that leads you towards contentment. May you be daily satisfied in who you are and find the greatest fulfillment what you do! #ShiftAway
