Why are we discontent?

It’s the beginning of the new year. Amidst the onslaught of goals and resolutions being made for the coming months, it is also, I feel, important to look back over those months you have just walked through. For often, there is a lesson there -something to glean and take forward. On my reminiscence this year I discovered something that I didn’t like. Something that had at times woven its arms through my days and robbed me. Something I saw in others’ faces around me where joy lacked. Something that I had fought and still had to fight. Discontentment. Such a powerful evil, in some ways invisible until, like a slow poison, it finally cripples. Something that even at times we like, thinking it is pushing us to be better or to accomplish something. In the end however, if we give in, we find we can never escape it. And so, as I reflected over the past year, I resolved to rebuff with even greater effort this lurking creature of darkness. I hope you will join me.

To root something out of your life, you first must be aware of it. This year I became more acutely aware of discontentment and the affect it can have on people. I saw it in myself and others. I had no joy in those moments. But loss of joy is only one symptom. Envy and jealousy easily spring from the discontented soul. Bitterness and anger towards yourself or others closely follows. And if left unchecked the poison of these symptoms spreads, hurting loved ones, ending friendships. Have you seen any of these symptoms? Ask yourself – “is the underlying cause because I am discontent with my life?”

Underlying the discontentment though is something else. An even deeper root to remove. The next time you face discontentment, ask yourself, “why?” “Why do I feel this way?” Is the answer, “because I didn’t get what I think I deserve or wanted?” Is it pride in yourself and your actions that says, “I should have that,” that gives bloom to discontentment in your life? Is it selfishness for comfort or approval that makes you always wanting more than what you have? I think that while not exclusive pride and selfishness in our hearts often is the driving force behind discontentment in our life. We are so focused on ourselves we become too large and our view of reality is distorted. But the remedy comes as our heads are lifted and we see reality. How do we do this? There is not one answer. Your situation differs from mine. And yet there are ways to focus on reality that can help.  The first step I hope this post has ignited – awareness and watchfulness. Be on the lookout for discontentment in your life so that you can recognize it, reject it, and root out underlying causes. Secondly, it is beneficial to form habits that support contentment. And thirdly, it is important to fight discontentment in the moment, by recalling and speaking truth right then and there. I hope you will read on for Part 2 as I discuss some practical ways to help with these steps.