I’d be willing to bet you have a closet in your home filled with the following: clothes with the tags still attached, unopened thing-a-ma-bobs you swore you needed, and other material possessions that haven’t seen the light of day since the beginning of the millennium.
And hey, don’t worry! I’m not judging. I’ve certainly been guilty of doing much of the same–and for an understandable reason. Our society pushes us towards comparison, so much so that it has almost become normal to try to keep up with the Joneses. We’re constantly looking to show off our material possessions–the latest gadget, the newest clothing, and all of the above.
We must stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. Instead, let’s drag them down to our level! It’s much cheaper!
Just kidding! In all seriousness, if you hope to achieve contentment in your life, it’s time to shift your focus to habits, attitudes, and mindsets that fuel your soul–not drain it. Good news is, I’m going to share with you my secrets to finding contentment in your life, using mindfulness, gratitude, and a few other tricks. Plus, it’s time to subtract others’ opinions and judgments from your happiness equation. Let’s get started.
Focus less on possessions and more on the experience that is life
The key to finding contentment, gratitude, and peace in your life is to give up material attachment. That’s a quest you’ll never reach the end of, and it’ll leave both your soul (and your pockets) stone dry.
Instead, focus on the beautiful experience we get to call life! You’re a human being with the ability to experience so much on this earth. Take advantage of that! Soak in your gratitude! Explore all that it is to be a living, breathing human being in the world.
Take a painting class, learn how to write poetry, enjoy a day at the museum with your children, go to dinner by yourself and enjoy the present moment. Because that’s what this life is about: the present moment. Don’t you think it’s time to focus more on that?
Looking for a way to invite more experiences into your life? A mandala workshop can help you explore your creativity, but it can aid in your mindfulness practice, as well. It can either be in a group, on your own in person or via zoom.
Using mindfulness to live in the present moment
You know what they say, focusing on the past leads to sadness, concentrating on the future leads to anxiety, and centering on the present leads to contentment. To live more of your life in a state of gratitude, you must make an active choice to engage in a mindfulness practice.
It can start with something so simple as listening to a guided meditation each morning, colouring mandalas, meditating for five minutes daily, drawing on a blank canvas, having a gratitude ritual, or completing a mindfulness workbook. You deserve peace, and I promise, you will get that if you commit to becoming more mindful.
Cut out bad habits
Back to that closet of doom. When we try to keep up with our peers, we can develop a pretty nasty spending habit, an addiction even! Online buying makes this even easier to spiral into. I encourage you to commit to a month-long challenge. A challenge that tests your mindfulness practice and helps you focus on what you have–and to be more grateful for it.
You can commit to not buying clothes for a month, no online shopping (unless it’s for your business or work for example, paper…), meditating every day, putting money in your savings each week, engaging in a mindfulness practice, or something else entirely. Start with just one month-long challenge, and then try another one! Sooner rather than later, you’ll be on your way to creating new, healthier habits that help you find that contentment you so greatly deserve.
Need a little extra help?
That’s where I come in. I’m a certified happiness coach, and I can help you on your journey towards finding peace, joy, and true contentment. Trust me, I’ve been there. I want to validate where you are today and inspire you to reach where you want to be tomorrow. Eager to learn more about how I can help? Let’s connect today.
