When it comes to things, I can embrace a minimalistic view, not desiring to spend my time maintaining things or the mental clutter that comes with them. When it comes to knowledge or experiences, however, I find myself often in a state of constantly seeking more. It is so easy to seek the next thing, in a way that makes it impossible to enjoy what we already have.
If we assume that happiness, peace or revelation is right around the corner, that we will be able to relax when we finally hit a certain goal, or when the kids reach a certain age, or when we finish the house repairs, we will never arrive at that place. True contentment doesn't come from arriving at a certain stage of life- it is a state of life.
I've been asking myself lately: "Can life be good even if I never have more than I have today? Am I resting in contentment with THIS place that I find myself in life?" Do I feel whole? Because the truth is, if I can't feel whole now, I won't feel whole then just because my circumstances change. My MINDSET has to change. I can be at peace in this house, with this partner, with my kids at these ages, with this wardrobe, with this body, with this office, with this LIFE. I just have to choose it. I choose it everyday.
The key to minimalism doesn't lie in the accumulation of things or even in the purging of things. It is an ability to rest and set down the "act of seeking more".
This is so counter to hustle energy. We can still work hard while being content but it has to be in the mindset that we are flowing and agents working within the sphere we find ourselves in at this moment, for a time such as this, instead of always hustling for tomorrow. It's about creating space- not just physical space, but emotional and mental space- so that we can truly see and pause and appreciate where we are at.
Imagine waking up each morning and feeling a deep sense of joy and contentment for the bed you wake up in, the person laying beside you (or animal, or huge bed all to yourself), and the gentle light starting to illuminate the room as your eyes adjust to the new day. Imagine the time you connect with God in the morning being the thing that you look forward to, your warm cup of coffee and quiet before the kids wake up- not some event you bought tickets for months from now that makes you hope you might be able to connect with God- finally.
This spiritual aspect was one of the hardest parts of contentment for me to embrace. What if I never feel any closer or understand any more fully than I do right now? It is in the knowing that I am fully content with that, that actually allows to expand into what is and feel deeper, know more, feel more, experience more. There is no external seeking that can do that.
So today, I invite you to join me in this reflection: Is this enough? Am I enough? Is my life enough? Could it be?
What would it look like to believe you have it. Consider the possibility that your deepest joy is already present, just waiting for you to notice it.
Warmly,
Jennifer Ferrante, CHt.
Ferrante Family Wellness
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