The Struggle With Being Content

It is human nature to want more. Whatever we have in life is not good enough. If only we had a bigger house. If only we made a little more money. If only we had a better job that utilized all of our talents. If only we had purpose in our jobs.

It never seems to end. Our desire for more is constant and it seems that whatever we are chasing in life is never enough. Millionaires want more, and people making $20,000 want more. It isn’t a bad thing that we are trying to achieve greatness, but sometimes we don’t realize what we have that is right in front of us.

Personally, I struggle with being content every day. Being content is a great thing. My mother has always told me to be happy with what I have had. As I have grown older, I have realized the importance of her comments.  She is one of the most content people I know. She is completely satisfied reading a book, spending a day with her kids and grand kids, and spending time with her husband.  She doesn’t want or need anything else.  She has ALL she wants.

I admire people who are at peace. They are at peace with who they are and what they have accomplished. They are good people who are great people because of their every day actions. They are, in my book the richest people in the world.  They are good parents, good spouses, good friends, and will always lend a helping hand.

Life is short. I don’t know when I woke up and had a job, a wife, kids, that all depend on me, but it happened quickly. Much faster than I ever thought it would.   As I think about my profession and the demands I put on myself to achieve greatness, I often forget about taking time to enjoy the moments in life. Truthfully, it is the little moments that have nothing to do with work where we achieve greatness.

Are you content? As you move through this week, think about what is important to you and what you want to leave behind when you leave this world. You may realize you are doing it already. YOU are just being YOU. Sometimes that is enough.  Try being content.

If you know someone who you think is great, pass this along and let them know the impact they have had on your life.  They may be a little more content and that may help alleviate some of the stresses and anxieties that we have in this world.

*The above picture is the Daddy/Daughter dance with my Daughter in February 2015.  It was one of the proudest days of my life.