Three ways to help with discontentment

Hey, and welcome back to Mahalia’s Inspiration. Today, I just wanted to share three things that helped me with discontentment. 

1.Counting blessings

2. Declaring God’s Word

3. Doing things that bring Joy

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, discontentment is “the condition of feeling dissatisfied with one’s life or situation." Feeling discontent in life or a problem is normal; you are not alone. I struggle with this occasionally and want to share three things that help me get out of this funk.

Life is unpredictable, and things don’t always go our way. We can sometimes get disappointed and may hit a few curves and bumps. That’s okay; life isn’t always easy, and life isn’t always how we planned. So, adapting our mindset to being content in each moment is how we can beat discontentment.  Our feelings are guides, not facts; if we live by our feelings, we will never be grounded due to constantly fluctuating with our emotions. Who wants to live like that?

  So, being thankful for the blessings and good things that are going right can help keep one grounded.

1. Counting My Blessings- 

Counting my blessings helps me put things into perspective and shift my focus on what I don’t have and what I do have. I wake up every morning, and I immediately thank God for what I have and for providing me with what I need.  Discontentment can try to steal your joy by focusing on the negatives. For instance, you may want a job, you may want more money, you may wish you had a friend or family member around, or you may want a relationship. Whatever it is that you feel like you don’t have and that you need. Dwelling on those things can cause you to slip into depression and a chronic state of discontentment. By telling yourself you don’t have enough. Counting your blessings changes that narrative to defeat winning. If you want more money and have a job, start saying, “I am blessed to have a job, and if God willing, I will take the necessary steps to look for a new job.” If you want a relationship, change your thought process to say, “I am content with myself, and the right people will come into my life. Also, be thankful for the people you do have. We all have at least one person we can count on.

2.        Declaring God’s word-  

For me, I declare God’s word over myself and my feelings.  Just because I may feel a certain way doesn’t necessarily mean it is factual. Remember, discontent is feeling dissatisfied.  So, the question is, how do you feel satisfied? by not worrying about the problems and trusting God to work them out? Words that I repeat to myself are, “If He clothes the lilies, how much more will he clothe you.” Matthew 6:28-33 KJV.   This verse tells me that for everything I need, God will provide. I may not get what I want, but I have everything I need, so I should trust that my God, who loves me, will never harm me or give me bad things. So, if I didn’t get that relationship, job, or car, then maybe it wasn’t for me or its time. Understanding this causes me to be content for each season.  What do you need to tell yourself to change the narrative of discontentment?

3.        Doing something that brings joy-

When a person is dealing with discontentment and maybe even depression, they can forget that they have hobbies and a personality. Discontentment likes to rob you of the joy you once had or can have.  I took a moment to remember what I wanted to do that I often didn’t get to do. I remember that I enjoy arts and crafts and pottery, and so I deliberately went out of my way to go back into hobbies that would spark life back into me. In the process, I discovered some new things about myself.

Our lives are not perfect by any means; no one can say they fully got it made. Even the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor have something to be dissatisfied about. That is why we must focus on maintaining our joy and peace and what is good. The beautiful part of life is that trouble doesn’t always last, so if you’re feeling discontent or have had a pretty messed-up life, the good news is that it can change. You have the power to have a better day and tomorrow, and it begins in the mind.

Don’t give the voice of discontentment any more power. Say, "I am blessed with everything I need, and today, I can take steps to a blessed and fulfilled life if I trust God to order my steps." I hope this message encourages you to change the narrative in your life.

See you soon, and God bless

Mahalia❤️