Let’s talk about the word “contentment”. Where does this idea that “I’m not good enough”, “I didn’t do enough” originate from?! I know I’m not the only one who struggles with this. I applaud all the ambitious souls out there. I see you all over my timelines and I salute you. I’m not suggesting that being ambitious is wrong, because achieving, finding victory, overcoming challenges - those things are all to be celebrated! But at what point do we pause and revel with satisfaction for all that we’ve achieved? How often do we allow our very best to be good enough, regardless of the outcome? Why does contentment have to be negative, synonymous with complacency? What if contentment is merely a place for reflection , for acknowledgment and gratitude?

And again, I ask - where did it come from? Striving to please our parents or overcome peer pressure? And are we projecting that same sense of disatissfaction onto our own children, our own peers?

I don’t have all the answers. This post has been a long time coming because I’ve been wrestling with it for quite some time. In fact at one point I told myself once I mastered PERFECTIONISM I would then be allowed to write about it. So you see the irony in it?! Well I didn’t at first, but once I did I literally burst out laughing. I DO NOT have all the answers. I’m exploring, researching, and observing as we speak. But one thing I do know is that it gets in the way of my PEACE and I’m not okay with that.

So give it some thought - I want to hear your perspective below. Note that you don’t have to create an account. You don’t even have to use your real name. I just want to create a healthy community full of rich and respectful dialogue. So I look forward to hearing from you, and in the meantime I’ll be continuing my own exploration as well. Meet me back here for part 2 as we dive into - where does perfectionism come from, and what do we do about it? 

Want to explore more on the concept of contentment vs complacency? Check out this article and share your thoughts.

Namaste,

Tian