Growth & Contentment
We reached out to a few leaders at Simmons who have experience or wisdom to share on a few upcoming topics. It’s been so cool to hear from other’s perspectives and we’re excited to share those with you soon! This week, I’ve asked my friend and Simmons Leadership Development Partner, Chris Greathouse, to help answer one of the questions as we look at the topics of growth and contentment.
QUESTION: “I want to grow professionally and personally, but I struggle to follow through on the goals I set (Exhibit A: There is a very expensive and slightly used treadmill that has sat upright and collected dust since Jan 10th). What can I do in the goal setting process that would help me grow in this area?”
Chris Greathouse | Leadership Development Partner | chris.greathouse@simfoods.com
Years ago, I decided I was going to train for a 5K race to run with my niece. My problem? I was not a runner. I was active as a soccer player and a coach, but running just to run was not something I enjoyed or did much of. However, it was important to me to do this with her, so I decided I would train and run.
Now that I had my goal, my next question was how to start. What type of strategy would I use? I had trained many athletes over the years. As a high school soccer coach, I knew how to get high school soccer players in shape, but I was not 18 years old, not in the greatest of shape and a whole lot older! I decided my strategy would be to create a spreadsheet with the miles I would run every week. Then, each week I would write in my number of miles and times. This way I stayed accountable for achieving my goal. When my niece came to visit she always looked at my sheet, as I had it posted on my refrigerator, to see how many miles I was putting in. This definitely kept me accountable. I wanted to be able to keep up with her on the day of the run, or at least finish!
I created my daily and weekly goals of the number of miles I needed to run. Each day I recorded the miles, I realized that I was able to go a little farther and a little faster. It was incredible to see my actual results on paper.
As it got closer to the race day, I became more confident in my running ability. In my confidence I actually made a bet with my niece. I challenged her to a “loser buys a root-beer soda for the winner”. I may have been a bit overconfident when I made that bet. Because let me assure you, my 24 year-old niece had no problem collecting on that root-beer soda!
While she absolutely beat me in that race, I found that I too had won. I accomplished something that I had never done before. It felt good to cross that finish line. I may not have been as fast as I desired…but I did it! And it felt great!
Application
Anyone can have a goal. It’s the person who sets the goal, creates the strategy, builds a scoreboard and stays accountable that has great success. When we use the four steps of “miracle grow” in our lives, we make gains when we weren’t sure we could.
This example I’ve shared is with a physical goal, but “miracle grow” can be applied to any goal you have for your life.
First, name and set your goal
I wanted to run a race with my niece in a reasonable amount of time.
Second, create the strategy
I did research to see what reasonable mileage was to prep for the race. I then put it all together in writing.
Third, build the scoreboard
I used an excel spreadsheet and put in on my refrigerator to ensure that I knew what was next every day.
Lastly, give yourself some accountability:
My niece was my accountability. Every time she visited, she would comment about my mileage and times. Running the race was the accomplished goal.
I have coached hundreds of people over the last several years. All of them had something they wanted to accomplish. When they applied these principles, they were almost always successful. You can try them too. Even goals that have seemed out of reach are possible!
QUESTION: “The idea of contentment in life is intriguing and inspiring, but it feels unrealistic in today’s culture. What does being content look like? How do I experience contentment AND keep pursing growth? I just don’t want get stagnant, if that makes sense?”
Nick Braschler | Director of Simmons Cares | nick.braschler@simfoods.com
I think we all ask this same question, maybe in different ways throughout the course of our life and career. This is a question I’ve asked myself personally as well.
Think of someone in your life that you would consider a content person. I think we may all be hard pressed to even name one person. Contentment is rare in our culture today.
Show me a person who is content, and you’ll find someone who has peace regardless of what they have or what they lack. You find a person who is humble, and yet confident in who they are - and more so, in the God they trust.
Contentment is counter-cultural. Most every commercial or social media ad or post is a reminder that we need more, or that someone else has more (or better) than you do. Not only do they want you to think you don’t have enough, but that you aren’t enough.
So what does it mean to be content?
Fulfilled. Peaceful. Happiness. Satisfaction. Well-being.
There’s one word I think of when I think of contentment.
Enough.
Here’s the challenge we all face. Right now, if I asked you what it would take for you to be content, you might say, “Well, if I had just a little bit more…” If I made a little more money, or had a little bit bigger house, or if I could buy a few more cows (OK, that one may just be me), etc. You know what happens though when we do get a little bit more? We need just a little bit more.
I’m not talking to you from a high horse. I know alot about this topic because I know personally what discontentment looks like. I’m learning and growing in the pursuit of contentment right alongside you.
Why does contentment matter?
Ready for a fun reality check? One day you’re going to die. What will it all have meant? I believe there is honor in leaving an inheritance for the next generation(s) and wealth and money isn’t evil. But there will come a day when what keeps you up at night right now, won’t mean anything to you at all in light of eternity.
So, maybe a bit of perspective change might help.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) something that speaks right to the heart of this discussion on contentment. He writes,
“...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I 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. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.”
In a separate letter to a friend, Timothy, Paul gives another layer deeper on what he believes about contentment and the traps we can fall into.
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
- 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT)
We misquote this verse often and say that money is evil. That’s not what this verse says. “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I have witnessed many people, some that you and I work with every day, who God has blessed with wealth and they have been incredible stewards of this responsibility and blessing.
“More money will only make you more of what you already are.”
If you are generous and you make more money, you will change people’s lives and your community for good through outrageous generosity and giving. If you are bitter and selfish and you make more money, you will be utterly miserable. More money wont cure or heal or fill whatever hole you are trying to fill.
Part of your question was, “How do we not become stagnant?”
When I read the word, “Stagnant,” my mind immediately went to one area of my farm that when it rains, the water has nowhere to go. After a few weeks of it just sitting there, it reeks something awful!
Stagnation is such an interesting way to contrast with contentment. The question is, can you be content with your circumstances and still pursue growth and excellence? Absolutely. I believe that you can.
Satan is the master of deception, and he has a will for your life, just as God does. But where God desires for a close relationship with you and a life filled with peace, hope, deep connection and meaning; Satan desires nothing more than isolation and ashes. This is accomplished in many ways, often subtle, but highly effective and destructive.
We must surround ourselves with trustworthy people and community that are willing to encourage and challenge us along the journey. It’s not a straight shot - there will be mountain tops and there will be valleys. Both can be for our good and our growth.
Here are a few practical ways to grow in your contentment:
Practice Gratitude Every Day
I have a journal where I write 5 things I’m grateful for every day. Gratitude is a powerful way to combat discontentment, and to constantly remind yourself of God’s grace and love as you reflect on the events of the day.
Weed Out the Sources of Discontentment
The less social media I consume directly correlates to the level of contentment I experience. The less I spend time with people who are chasing after things that don’t have eternal value, or that are comparison addicts, the more content I find myself becoming.
Reprioritize the “Things” in Your Life that, in the End, Simply Won't Matter.
Money and things aren’t always bad, but the love of them can make them an idol. Put “things” in their place, as though they might be at the end of your life, when very few of them will matter. The things of eternal signifance, that will be what will matter to you.