Today I Am Content

Will I ever reach the point where I'll be perfectly content with my life? Probably not since I still have dreams and goals that I want to pursue in the next few years or maybe until I die. But that doesn't mean I can't find little bursts of "I am content" feelings every once in a while. 

I can find contentment in

... not having to set an alarm clock during the weekends

...discovering a new coffee shop in my neighborhood

...finding a bookshelf that can finally fit all my books

...being able to do non-work stuff in the middle of a work week

...living a slow and soft life after decades of being a workaholic

I can say I am content with my life right now even though it is hardly perfect. I am content because this life is temporary and I am looking to the eternal. 

Reaching this point took years of attitude adjustment, learning to enjoy the simple things, developing an attitude of gratitude, practicing mindfulness and living in the moment. It also involves letting go of emotional (and physical) baggage and some dreams that may never be fulfilled.

So if you’re not feeling content with your life now, try to examine if you need to change your circumstances or if it’s your attitude that needs a little tweaking. It may involve having to make painful decisions or it may be you just need to get a different point of view.

IF YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING:

Create a sketch or drawing or list of what a perfect day looks like for you.

JOURNALING PROMPT:

What are things that you would like to add and/or remove from your life in order to reach a level of contentment that you're content with?

Today I Am Grateful

Developing an attitude of gratitude will do wonders for your brain, heart, and soul. Scientists, psychologists, and theologians have sang its praises. It is a recognition of the goodness that happens to us and at the same time, an acknowledgement that this goodness lies outside of ourselves. 

We're usually thankful when we receive a gift, an unexpected favor, an answer to our prayer. But what about on the ordinary days when nothing really happens or when you experience something horrible? How can you be thankful then? You will be forced to examine things more closely and deeply and see what you can be thankful for in those times.

You can still find something to be thankful for in the simplest of things or the most painful of experiences or even when you think there's nothing to be thankful for. You may not find it at the moment but when you look back on it, you'll realize there was something to be grateful for after all. 

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

In one page, list down all the things that you're thankful for right now, both the small and big things. You can keep it going by creating a separate gratitude journal or just adding a space for it in your existing journal or notes app.

JOURNALING PROMPT:

Look back on a painful or difficult experience in your past. What is something that you're thankful for now that you didn't know back then?

Express gratitude

1. Keep a gratitude jar.

2. Make a section in your planner or journal for your gratitude list and add at least 3 things every day.

3. Do a daily gratitude post (but dont humble brag)

4. Write a simple gratitude note to a loved one or a colleague.

5. When you pray, don't just ask for things. Tell the Lord all the things you're grateful for.

Today I Am Happy

For a lot of people, life is all about the pursuit of happiness. There are a lot of books, songs, movies, pieces of art created just to be able to chase that feeling. If you woke up happy today, good for you. Embrace the feeling and revel in the happiness that you're feeling right now.

But happiness can be fleeting since it's more of a feeling. It is of the moment and may be a reaction to a person, an event, a situation. Of course it's not a bad thing to be happy but it also shouldn't be our be all and end all. I'm more a fan of the idea of joy. It is a state of the heart and the soul. It can go beyond circumstance and like peace, it can be beyond understanding. 

Yes, you can pursue happiness and that is still an important part of life. But the more important thing is you can choose joy. Maybe instead of asking yourself "Am I happy?", you can ask "Have I found my source of joy?" 

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

Create a list of things that make you happy- your dopamine or happiness playlist. When you're feeling lonely, you can look back on this list and choose to do one of those things.

JOURNALING PROMPT:

When was the last time that you really felt a sense of joy?

Today I Am Determined

"If you just set your mind to it, you can do anything you want."

How many times have you heard that or some version of it from various self-help books and gurus or on memes on Reels and Tiktok? But then you find yourself frustrated when you are unable to achieve that thing that you wanted no matter how much you tried or think you tried. Determination = success is not a magic spell that you can shout and your wishes will be granted. 

Rather, determination is an attitude that needs to be developed. You are determined to accomplish something because you know it plays to your strengths and skills. You are determined to finish something even if you're faced with difficulties because you know that this is something that will benefit you or someone else. You are determined to focus on your goals without getting distracted because this is something that you need to do.

But again, determination is not something that you can just positive think your way to. It takes commitment to see something through. It takes discipline to do what you're supposed to do. It takes focus to not get easily distracted. And most importantly, it takes adaptability when things don't go as planned and acceptance if that goal is not something that you will be able to achieve.

It takes a certain kind of determination to go for things that you want, things that align with your values and what you believe in. But there's also a certain kind of bravery to accept things when they're not happening even if you've given it your all. It's okay to be disappointed but eventually you should also be determined to pick yourself up, rest for a while, and then go for something else.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

Write out the practical steps that you need to do for a specific project you're determined to finish. 

JOURNALING PROMPT

What are your goals for the next three months and what steps do you need to take to accomplish them?

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

Today I Am Hopeful

In a world full of cynics , post-modernists, and pessimists, to feel hopeful day by day is a rare and beautiful thing. If you wake up and feel that the world is still a beautiful place despite the difficulties that you have been facing lately, embrace that feeling. If you still feel that way before you sleep, whether you had a good or bad day, that is a precious gift. It's very easy to give in to hopelessness because of circumstances, feelings, or just how the world generally is. This hopeful feeling can disappear in a flash if suddenly faced with things and people that may dim this spark inside of us.

So it's important to develop a hopeful attitude rather than just trying to "think positive" all the time. Having a hopeful attitude means trying to see the good in people around you, even if some of them may be a bit challenging. It means reframing how you see difficulties and setbacks you may face by focusing on things that can be in your control. It means celebrating small wins when they come and developing active gratitude. It means focusing on the present while learning from the mistakes of the past and looking forward to the better possibilities of the future.

Most importantly, having a hopeful attitude means realizing that true hope cannot depend on things, people, or circumstances. They are constantly shifting and eventually unreliable. Real and lasting hope must be anchored in Christ, who remains entirely constant through every season of life. When your heart is rooted in Him who is unchanging, that Hope becomes the ultimate anchor of your soul. That Hope can give you the steady confidence to always be hopeful no matter what challenges come your way.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

Create a hope tracker for the next 21 days. Mark the days when you wake up feeling hopeful and if you still feel the same at the end of the day. This tracker can show you if you're developing a hopeful attitude and maybe change how you approach life if you're struggling.

JOURNALING PROMPT

What are things that you're currently feeling hopeful about? How do you think you can develop a more hopeful attitude?

“Hope is the anthem of my soul.” - Switchfoot