Cultivating contentment

Wherever you are, there are two ways to be there: discontent or grateful. For instance, when I work from home, there are two ways to be here.

1. I notice what's wrong. ("These carpets look horrible." "We need to gut the bathroom." "When am I going to fix the kitchen floor so we can have a fridge inside our house?")

--- OR ---

2. I notice what's right. ("There's a mockingbird that sits in the top of our tree and sings all day." "It's calming just to look at the pool." "I'm really digging our new couch.")

It takes no effort to notice what's wrong. It takes intentionality to notice what's right.

There is discontentment and misery in noticing what's wrong. There is gratitude and joy in noticing what's right.

Wherever you are and will be today, simply do this: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Why? Because of this: "Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:16-17a)

In other words, anything good around or within you comes from God. To notice is to be thankful, and to give be thankful is to pray. This kind of praying changes your perspective and makes you a joyful person to be around.