Are You Content, or Are You Constantly Striving?

What a Brilliant Week!
 
I had the pleasure of delivering my brand-new Productivity Breakthrough Masterclass in Manchester to an inspiring Vistage Group, brilliantly led by Chair Claire Farley. This was followed by my Mental Resilience Keynote, delivered to the fantastic Cash for Kids team led by MD Sally Aitcheson MBE.
 
This is precisely why I refuse to retire!
 
The energy and fulfilment these sessions give me are beyond words. Sharing life-changing techniques with such enthusiastic groups never fails to inspire me.
 
The Vistage group was phenomenal, engaging fully throughout the entire three-hour session. Claire Farley had previously co-chaired a Vistage meeting with Peter Hills, where I delivered this Masterclass for the first time. She shared how the techniques she learned have already had a massive impact on her work-life balance.
 
Knowing that the tools I teach create such positive change is incredibly rewarding.
 
My keynote address for the Cash for Kids conference was equally well-received by their extraordinary team. They do fantastic work, raising millions of pounds each year to help hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children across the UK.
 
Cash for Kids supports vulnerable young people facing challenges like poverty, illness, or disability, and it was a privilege to speak to such a dedicated group.
 
 
How do you measure up against this definition of contentment?
 
“Contentment is a state of satisfaction and peace, where a person feels fulfilled with what they have and where they are in life. It involves accepting and appreciating the present moment without constantly striving for more or feeling dissatisfied with what is lacking.
 
Contentment doesn’t mean having everything you desire but instead finding happiness and peace in your current situation, regardless of external circumstances.
 
It often relates to an inner sense of well-being, where one is at ease and grateful for life’s simple pleasures, recognising that constant pursuit of material things or status may not lead to lasting happiness.”
 
 
Contentment and striving reflect two different mindsets in life, each with its own merits:
 
Contentment:
 
State of Satisfaction: Contentment involves being at peace with where you are and what you have. It’s about appreciating the present moment and being grateful.
 
Acceptance: It includes accepting life’s limitations or imperfections without constantly wanting more or different outcomes.
 
Inner Peace: Contentment fosters calm and well-being without the anxiety of chasing what’s missing.
 
Focus on the Present: Content people find joy in the here and now instead of being preoccupied with future desires or what they lack.
 
 
Striving:
 
Desire for Improvement: Striving involves working toward goals, driven by the desire to improve or achieve something greater.
 
Ambition: It’s about setting goals and pushing yourself to reach higher, whether in your career, personal development, or other areas of life.
 
Restlessness: Striving can lead to restlessness, as it focuses on what is yet to be achieved, sometimes making it harder to appreciate the present.
 
Future-Oriented: Those who are striving often look ahead, focusing on future possibilities and accomplishments, rather than fully enjoying their current situation.
 
 
The Balance:
 
The critical difference is that contentment is about being satisfied with what you have while striving is about the desire to achieve more.
 
Both are valuable, and a balance between them—contentment with the present while striving for personal growth—can lead to a fulfilling life where you are driven by purpose but also able to enjoy the moment.
 
 
I love this final thought!
 
I love the sentiment in this final statement, highlighting how balancing contentment with ambition can lead to a truly fulfilling and happy life. Over the past few years, I’ve learned to embrace contentment with what I have, a mindset that has taken time to cultivate but has brought me immense peace and happiness.
 
While I continue to strive for more, I do so from a place of contentment rather than out of desperation. If new opportunities arise, that’s wonderful; if they don’t, that’s perfectly fine. The pressure to constantly chase more is gone, and that sense of ease is truly liberating.
 
 
Thoughts for the week: 

1. How content are you with your life?
2. Do you regularly appreciate what you have or always strive for more?
3. Do you believe achieving more is necessary for happiness?
4. Learning to be content with what you already have is the key to a happy life.
5. This week, take time to reflect on all the positives in your life and practice gratitude. Cultivating contentment is a skill you can learn and develop over time.
6. Over the years, I’ve shifted my mindset to appreciate what I have, leading to a deeply content and happy life.

Well, that’s it for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, and keep believing in your potential.
 
Warm regards

John


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