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This month, Living Contentment is The 2024 Contentment Challenge. So instead of the regular weekly – something to: read | do | pray – I’m sending these shorter, more frequent actionable Contentment Challenges. Enjoy! Challenges so far: Finding FulfilmentOne of the perennial RESOLUTIONS this time of year is to find a new job (or girl/boyfriend, house, car, etc). One that will bring me fulfillment. |
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What if finding fulfillment is about seeing the fulfilling things that are already in front of you rather than going out and searching for it? Instead of hoping something will bring you fulfillment – what if it’s already there in front of you? The author of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes tried to find fulfillment in work, possessions, affluence, influence and impressing others…and even though he got them….the fulfillment he hoped would accompany them wasn’t there. ” I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. … I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. … So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Eccesiaties 2:4-11 The actor Jim Carrey – who has had an objectively successful career -reflected on the fulfillment his wealth and fame brought him: “I think everybody should get rich and famous and everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that that’s not the answer.”
But today isn’t about knowing in your head that finding fulfillment in things and accomplishments isn’t the goal – as you probably already know that. It’s not a knowledge issue – it’s an emotional one. We can’t just know we won’t find fulfillment – we need to feel it. Take a step back and look at your life -right now – with outsider’s eyes. Look at it from who you were 5 or 10 years ago. If you ask them What would the response be? Sit with that for a minute. Then keep going – what related blessings/fulfillment/meaning is there in your life that perhaps others see better than you do? Instead of RESOLVING to do something to get more fulfillment – just be joyful for what you have already Talk to you for CHALLENGE #3 George 15503 106 st, Edmonton, AB T5X 5W7 |
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