Can you find contentment when you have big goals?
If you are struggling to feel contentment with big goals in your heart, I have news for you: You can be grateful for what you have, even when you are working towards something better!
Despite all those negative thoughts that tend to pop up when you think about wanting more, you do not have to feel guilty for having big dreams.
You know that everything you have is a blessing. With a roof over your head, healthy children, and a spouse that loves you, what more could you possibly ask for, right? You know that gratitude is important and that many people in the world are praying desperately for what you already have. You feel greedy for wanting anything more. I get it. But the truth is, you can have both. You can find contentment in your life now, even when you are working towards something better.
Be grateful for your home, even when you are planning to build the house of your dreams.
I am grateful for my house, and I do my best to keep it looking nice and feeling peaceful. This is our home. We love it, and that does not change just because we are working towards building the house of our dreams. Every day, I admire the new flooring that we put in this old house, the cozy layout of the main level, and the tranquility of our screened porch. When I am in the bathroom that seriously needs remodeling or when our families are cramped in my kitchen for a party, I think about how nice it will be when we can have more space and enjoy the newness of a house we built ourselves. Thoughts about how terrible our current living situation is or wondering if we ever will save the money to build a new house is not helpful. There are people who would love to have the home that I have, and I am going to enjoy it while I can. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop planning for the dream house.
Be grateful for your body, even when you’re working on taking better care of yourself.
I am grateful for this body. It has carried my babies, and that makes my stretchmarks and soft belly skin a blessing. My thick thighs are strong, and I can open a stubborn pickle jar as well as any man. My husband thinks I am sexy, and there are times that I feel beautiful. I love my body, and that is why I am committed to taking great care of it. You do not have to choose between loving your body and losing weight. Working towards a healthier, stronger, and more energetic body doesn’t mean that you have to hate your reflection now. There have been times in my life where I’ve planned to make serious changes for my health and honestly thought to myself, “But if I lose weight, everyone will realize how fat I am now.” Crazy, right? Making positive changes for yourself does not devalue who you are right now.
Be grateful for your job, even while searching for a better opportunity.
I am grateful for my job. I get to do challenging work that I am good at, and my co-workers are some of my best friends. Still, I’m longing for more time freedom, and the ability to work from anywhere doing something I am really passionate about. I want to wake up each day and decide for myself what my day will look like. I want to be the one taking care of my babies when they are sick, and I want to go on vacations with my family without worrying about getting my time-off request approved. Even while I build a business that gives me those freedoms, I will be thankful for the career that I already have.
Be grateful for your income, even when you are dreaming of more.
I am grateful for my income and the wealth that my husband and I have built thus far. I used to say, “Money can’t buy me happiness, so why waste my life trying to get more?” But the truth is, money matters too. Money is not evil, and you aren’t greedy for dreaming for more. God put a desire in your heart because money is a tool, a powerful tool, and he knows the good that you will accomplish with more of it. Having more money means giving more – to your children, to your spouse, to your church. Money gives you the freedom to be more of who you already are. If you aren’t currently a greedy, wasteful, selfish jerk, having more money isn’t going to turn you into one.
Do not let the fear of a challenge hold you back.
It turns out that the negative thoughts that you have about why you don’t need to set goals are simply lies from your brain in an attempt to keep you safe. We are designed to stick with the status quo. Uncertainty is scary, and we are programmed to be more comfortable with what is certain, even when we would be happier with something different. Challenge yourself to take a small step outside of your comfort zone each day – set big goals and take an honest look at your routines. Stop letting fear and bad habits hold you back. Recognize that you are playing small because you are afraid. It is ok to admit to fear - bravery does not mean fearlessness. Being brave means doing what needs to be done even though you are afraid.
When I tell myself the lies that fitness, money, and success don’t matter to me and that I am happy with what I have, it is because I’m afraid of what it will take for me to reach my goals. Growth takes honesty, courage, vulnerability, and hard work.
I am ready to embrace it - to do it scared and go after what God is calling me to do. Are you?
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