When is it okay to be content with your life? We say it like it’s a bad thing. We say it like being content means we’re not striving for better, or we’re settling. Why do we say all of these things like it means we’re giving up on life? Instead of looking at things like we’re choosing to become wallflowers and sink into the background of the world, we could look at it like we’re making the decision to be present in the moment.
Not everything has to be a hustle. I’m so guilty of this. It’s like we have this frame of mind where if it’s not going to make me money, why am I even doing it? Well, I’m here to assure you that it is okay to do things for fun. Do you like to do crafts? You don’t have to sell them. Do you like to write? It doesn’t have to make you money. It is okay to spend time doing things you enjoy simply because you enjoy doing them.
It goes further than the things we do to help us relax. As a society, we’re also guilty of always looking at what is next in our careers. Is it bad to be career driven? Absolutely not, but not everything you choose to do needs to be a stepping stone for growth in your career. If you like what you’re doing, you don’t need to be focused on moving up. It’s okay to like where you’re at. There is a lot of magic and growth that happens in focusing and honing your craft instead of focusing on climbing the ladder.
How many people do you know who join non-profit boards because they think they should, not because they truly embrace the mission? It’s always obvious too. It’s the people who come to the minimum number of meetings, say nothing when they are present and never volunteer to help with events. However, they can write it on their resume and tell their employers they’re donating this time. We shouldn’t be moving through life to fill out a resume. There is so much we’re missing when we only see life through corporate lenses.
We tend to label all of this as being content. I’ve almost always heard the word content used as a negative descriptor of people. Why? Why do we label people as lazy or unmotivated if they’re simply enjoying where they’re at?
Being told I had cancer had a really weird way of snapping me out of this frame of mind. Being at home with my kids is more important than my resume. Doing things because I enjoy doing it is more important than a side hustle. It is okay to live in the moment and enjoy where you are. It’s also okay to want more. You are not stuck. You can move, and you can change your mind. You aren’t required to have the same thoughts and feelings today that you had yesterday.
Have drive, be determined, work hard, and most importantly, enjoy where you are. You can always do good things.
Jo is a Mess 