Contentment

So this "week" while going through my Character Makeover book, I learned about contentment.  One of the key Scriptures they used in this book was from Philippians 4.

 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The verse that spoke to me the most while reading this was verse 12 because Paul went through horrific things in his lifetime yet he found what it meant to be content.  He had nothing at times yet he was still grateful for what he had.  That is the kind of attitude I want to have about life.  Some of the quotes that the authors used in this section says:
"Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have." Unknown author
"To experience happiness we must train ourselves to live in this moment, to savor it for what it is, not running ahead in anticipation of some future date nor lagging behind in the paralysis of the past."  Luci Swindoll
"Greed, jealousy and envy are akin to each other.  Greed wants more. Jealousy hoards what it already has.  But envy wants to have what someone else possesses."  Charles Swindoll
"What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others." French Proverb
"If happiness could be found in having material things and in bein able to indulge yourself in things you consider pleasurable, then we would be deliriously happy.  We would be telling one another frequently of our unparalleled bliss, rather than trading anti-deoressant prescriptions."  W.W. Norton & Company
"We spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy less; we have more convenience, yet less time; more leisure and less fun; we have more knowledge but less judgment; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness.  We spent too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get angry too quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too little; watch too much TV; pray too seldom.  We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we talk too much, love too little and lie too often.  WE've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more parties, but less fun; more acquaintances, but fewer friends.  These are times of fancier houses, but broken homes; higher incomes, but lower morals.  We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to our years."  Bob Moorehead

My goals for this coming week:
1) I will be thankful.
2) I will redefine my "needs".
3) I will develop myself.  I will expand not what I have, but who I am, by cultivating friendships; enjoying conversation, music, and art; savoring reflection and solitude; or exploring hobbies and interests.
4) I will rest.  I will plan some leisure time into every day.  I will give myself a short break at least once a day where I do something I enjoy, such as read a book, crochet, or take a catnap.  I will sit outside to eat my lunch, weather permitting.
5) I will make eye contact with every person I meet this week, and I will be generous with my smiles.
6) I will watch my vocabulary and eliminate negative words such as struggle, hassle, exhausted, frustrated, draining, and impossible.  I will inject more positive words such as adventure, explore, exciting, potential, hope, and celebrate.