Do you ever feel like you’re too busy for contentment? Like life just keeps moving and you’re moving right along with it but feel like you’re in a trance? Just surviving, not thriving? Do you feel like you constantly get into a funk but aren’t really sure how to get out and prevent yourself from ending up there again?
I’ve been falling into this very same trap the past few months and would like to share with you five ways that I think we can get out of the discontentment funk and prevent falling back in down the road.
1) Read your Bible and pray
Most of the time when I’m in a funk I know that time spent in Bible study and prayer is what I need most but it’s usually the last thing I feel like doing, (I know that’s bad, right?) I let myself get overwhelmed by what I feel like a good Christian should be doing and lose sight of the simple reason that I need God. I need His help, love, assurance, and forgiveness as much as the next person. Don’t read your Bible simply because it’s the “good” thing to do; read it because you want to strengthen your relationship with Jesus.
2) Shake things up
Again I know that when life feels like it’s spinning out of control and you have SO much that needs to be done in such a short amount of time the very last thing you feel like doing is changing anything. But I encourage you to change one small thing. It doesn’t have to be huge or time-consuming it can be as small as doing your Bible study outside (I’m going to try this one tomorrow), exercising 30 minutes, or taking the stairs one time at work.
3) STAY OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA
I put that one in caps for me. Social media seems to be one of my biggest struggles. I always feel like I need to check in just in case someone would possibly need to contact me. (Newsflash: I could stay off for an entire week and not really miss anything). Most people that I would “need” to communicate with know my phone number and reach out to me that way. It’s usually easier for both parties that way. And another thing: Usually when I keep getting on just to “check things out” I end up comparing my life to the lives of my friends. This leaves me feeling like my life is super boring and I have zero really good friends. In reality though: I have a very blessed life filled with lots of opportunities that many others don’t get to experience and I do have really great friends. We just don’t feel the need to post about everything we do in our lives. If you’re like me and find staying off of social media a bit of a challenge, try making it a challenge. See how long you can stay off of it—just for fun. See how many things you can accomplish before you check in for the day.
4) Write
Start a journal. Write down your thoughts on the day, the weather, temperature, anything. Just write. Don’t stress yourself out over whether or not all your i’s are dotted or your t’s crossed or that your handwriting is perfectly legible. Just write. Write down things you’re thankful for and why. Write down the little things you want to remember 5 or 10 years from now. If you keep up with this who knows, you may want to write a book someday. And another thing: If you’re like me and terrified that you’re going to have an awful day and not be very nice about a particular individual in your writing and then that individual will someday find those words and be very upset…Write those thoughts in a way that you could share it with someone else and maybe encourage them on their journey.
5) Be thankful
I’ve heard it said that it’s a really good idea to have a gratitude notebook. Someplace to write down all of the things that we’re thankful for. I’ve done that a time or two but can never seem to stick with it. However, I do think that it’s a good idea to pause every so often and just thank God for all of the blessings that He gives us. Remembering where we started and where we are now. How far God has brought us and how He’s still with us today. Being thankful for each of the itty bitty little things that He gives us day after day that we may not always notice.
These five ideas are just that; ideas on how we might be able to find contentment right where we are. We don’t have to like where we are but we do need to find contentment where we are. Relying on a God whose plans are good and love for us never ends. These ideas aren’t a guarantee that we will get out of the pit of discontentment or that we will never fall back in. They are meant to be an encouragement, a way to get you to think differently about where you are in life and how you can make your day a little better.
When you find yourself falling into the pit of discontentment what are some ways that you try to get out and to not fall back in? I’d love for you to share them in the comments below!
Until next time,
Bailey Sue
