Containing Contentment Part 2

“Man’s happiness really lies in contentment. And Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress.”- Gandhi

Welcome to part 2 of contentment. Gandhi seems to be contradictory in his two quotes, until you examine further. Gandhi was discontent with the system of oppression in his country and he had a goal to change it. The secret for Gandhi was his contentment as a person. He was content with who he was and his personal life because of his inner power to face the opposition. He knew nothing can take away his power to be happy. They could take away all his belongings, security, basic human needs and he was still content.  He taught how to be content with simplicity.

Content does not mean complacent. In the goal you strive for is the very thing that challenges you along the journey. It is not about getting to the goal but it is learning to be content in the journey, no matter what obstacles you may encounter. Bottom line to contentment is the mind. Mind over matter? Perhaps.

You might say, “I am not happy because I feel my life is crap.” I can sympathize with you; it is difficult when relationships are not going very well, finances are tough, eating habits and weight gain frustrate, or when life is just a mess. You and I both have had those situations that we have encountered in life to where we just want to give up. There were times when I was unhappy in my condition and in others I was happy and content. Paul in Philippians 4:10-14 provides a secret lesson I had to learn in being content in every situation whether I was fed or I was hungry. The secret to contentment is to remember:

1. The conditions do not make you unhappy; it is your choice of thoughts, attitude and behavior that allows you to find contentment in all things.
2. Count your pieces of good fortune; be satisfied in what you do have because many do not have it. 
3. In your relationships remember to step back and accept them as an entire package. It is learning how to work with them rather than against them. Think of how a porcupine bypasses their own kind by working around the quills.
4. Do you really need or want? Consider why you want something (see last week's blog Need).
5. Remember who is in control. As a Christian, God is in control. He is the pilot, Christ is the co-pilot and the Spirit is the navigator. You are a steward on the plane of life to help others remember how to be content. You have a destination, but it is all in how you serve.

“God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The mind is power. Harnessing the power is the secret to life. What do you choose to be content in? 

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)

Containing Contentment Part 1

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Cicero

Taking your clothes to the cleaners can be stressful. You do not know if they can effectively remove the stain from shirt or what it will cost you in the end. Life can be like a dry cleaner. You never know how you will be pressed.

Stress enacts a toll on the human body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Perhaps that is why so many people go to a massage therapist. Much like ironing the wrinkles out of a dress shirt, the skilled hands manipulate the muscles, untangling the knots. Afterwards, you can feel physically refreshed and energized, but your thoughts continue to churn in your mind, getting thick. You are left with a gooey mess from the mistakes you have made.

How do you de-stress? Do you take time to relax each day? Not just sleeping in your hammock and sipping a glass of tea, but meditating and relaxing the mind and body? Tension can be like the stain on your clothes, it does not go away until you handle it with proper care. What is that proper care?

Contentment. Learning how to be content in all things is the secret to a life de-stressed. Content in the bad times because it sharpens you for what lies ahead. Content in what is good because it outweighs the bad. Being content means you don't crave for more, but make the best of what life has to give. It isn't about taking in life. It is about giving. Content doesn't mean complacent. Content means peace knowing that you can handle the curve balls.

Curve balls, slider balls, slow balls and fast balls are all pitches thrown to thwart a hit from a baseball player. How, then, does Albert Pujols get so many home runs for the Saint Louis Cardinals? He practices and trains his mind to hit the ball at the right opportunity. His whole mind and body are content, in the zone, able to focus on the goal and succeed.

Training and exercise is hard work. However, just walking to get around on a daily basis is exercise; our bodies need more for optimum health. Like the body, you need to exercise your mind. To be happy you do not have to have the best things in life. You have to make the best of everything you have by working hard. The greatest hardship you face can transform your faith.

To be content first, be thankful. No matter how upset you can be, or what might be happening around you, good or bad, find a way to be thankful. Next, contentment is found in forgiving. Forgiving allows room for you and the other person to grow. Therefore, you may wonder what is left in being content.

For now you will have to be Content in reading part 1 and wait till next week for part 2 of the secret to being happy is through contentment. “Happiness is self-contentedness.” – Aristotle.

Remember, it is good to start slow with a new exercise plan for the brain. So why not start now? See you next week!

By Faith, (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)

T.H.I.N.K.

When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking. We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.~ Albert Einstein

I love dogs. Since my dad was a dog handler in the Air force, I grew up around them. Dogs are able to do tricks, find drugs or bombs, guard things, and even catch the bad guys. They are loyal and obedient. Growing up I remember our dog loved Dairy Queen ice cream and on the ride home, he would hang his head out the window and let that wind blow dry his face.

It seems easy to tame dogs and gain their loyalty. When it comes to training children, it is moderately challenging. In order to get my son to use the bathroom when he was little, I would put a single cheerio in the toilet and tell him to sink it. Potty training was fun, but not all of parenting is a joy.  The human mind is the hardest to tame.

The mind can process thoughts faster than a human computer; harnessing that power is the key. Often times, we speak so fast we forget to think first. We fail to recognize how our hasty words inflict pain on others.  Slowing the brain down to allow the tongue to catch up can be difficult.

We need to remember to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and not be trapped into habitually using the same pattern. Ever felt you were in a rut like a car stuck in mud or snow unable to go anywhere? You need to infuse your mind with Scripture so that you can experience transformational thinking, bringing to light new ways to complete a goal.  We are masters at rationalizing our thoughts, but we must captivate and demolish self-destructive thoughts making them obedient to God’s word (2 Cor 10:5).

How is this accomplished? It is a difficult task done through perseverance. Just like training a dog, we need to train our brain by offering it new information, even doing tricks. The best choice is immersion in Scripture; additionally puzzles provide a challenge that can stimulate the mind to think. Technology can help as well, offering specific light-wave and sound wave patterns that cause a rewiring of the neuronal pathways in the brain. The hardest part is keeping the commitment. It takes 21 days to form a new habit.

Where do you begin? By THINKing. Word associations are a great memory tool. How can we train the brain to be obedient?

Look at your hand, start with thumb and count your five fingers. Thumb starts with a letter T, as does the word THINK. Use the four fingers that follow for the rest of the word, H.I.N.K.; now you have an acronym forming:

T.H.I.N.K. (TRUE, HELPFUL, INSPIRING, NECESSARY, KIND)

Is what you are thinking TRUE? Meaning, determine where your beliefs originate. A belief is not necessarily 100% certain; look at reality and honestly ask what is factual truth. Confirm what  is true, not by feelings or thoughts, but by the tacit experience of tangible truth.

Is what you are thinking HELPFUL? Meaning will it help you to get into a better situation. Will it help others through encouragement? Will it help better a relationship or create an attainable goal?

Is what you are thinking INSPIRING?  Before you speak, will your words cause damage to a person’s character or emotions and will it come back to haunt you? Are your thoughts inspiring you to better things or assisting others to aspire to new events.

Is what you are thinking NECESSARY? Thinking negative thoughts are not necessary. When your thoughts are destructive, is it necessary to express them?

Is what you are thinking KIND? Are you being kind to yourself and praising yourself for good deeds or accomplishments? Are the thoughts of others kind-hearted and encouraging? Honey draws more flies than fire.

Recall how the five fingers on your out-stretched hand spell THINK. Think as you imagine your hand extending for a handshake, or reaching out to offer a gift to someone, or giving a pat on the back. Anytime you are working with your hands think of the word and acronym T.H.I.N.K. (TRUE, HELPFUL, INSPIRING, NECESSARY, KIND). This will help you to focus your thoughts and train your mind on these things before you type or say anything that can malign others or yourself.

If only the mind could be like a dog, easily trainable, maybe we wouldn’t have to worry about chasing our tails.

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him).