Mysa Home Styling is all about cultivating contentment and joy at home through cozy and functional spaces. This blog is filled with inspiration and encouragement to help you create a home you love!
July 7, 2016
Lately I’ve been finding it a bit more difficult to be content with the home we have. (I think some of it might have to do with the fact that I’ve been house hunting with my mama for their upcoming move. Pesky realty envy!) We’re currently renting a little house in the Arts District of NE Minneapolis, and although it’s so much better than our last apartment, I still can get discouraged from time to time.
Whether it’s our awkwardly small bathrooms with no sinks, the brown shag carpet on the stairs, the slanted floor in our laundry room, the orange floral wallpaper in our bedroom, the never-ending supply of berries on our lawn furniture and yard, or the fact that our heating bill is humongous in the winter while I’m sitting shivering in our house, there’s always something I can find to complain about or wish were different.
But the reality is, we’re renting, so we can’t really do much about most of that stuff. And the more important reality is that we have the money to rent a home and fill it with lots of beautiful stuff that I love, so there isn’t any reason to complain! And for as many reasons as I can find to be discontent with our home, there are twice as many to be content—the fact that we have two bathrooms, a washer and dryer in our house (on the same level as our bedroom no less), a roomy kitchen with a dishwasher(!), beautiful wood floors, an office space, an actual yard, forced heat, trees to shade us from the summer heat, and lawn furniture that was an awesome Craigslist steal are all reasons to rejoice!
I think that I’ll always be able to find reasons to complain, if I’m looking for them. Even if we’re living in our dream home twenty years from now, I could always find a reason to be discontent (hello, social media!). But being discontent in a situation that you don’t have much power to change at the moment is not a good feeling. And not only is it an icky feeling, but it’s not the way that God created us to live. He calls us to be joyful in all things, to be content in all circumstances, and not to grumble or complain. Those all sound like tall orders, but thankfully He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us fulfill those callings.
So what are some practical ways that we can find contentment in the homes we have? Here are a couple ideas I have, and I’d love to hear any thoughts you have… so leave them in the comments!
So what do you think? I’m definitely preaching to the choir over here and plan on implementing some of these ideas to fight discontentment in my own life. What are some ways you fight for contentment in the home you have?
This needed to be said/heard. So good for the soul. Thanks for speaking life, Heather!
Thanks for reading it, Laura! Like I said, I was preaching to the choir. I need this reminder on a daily basis. Contentment can be so tricky, but it’s so important!
This needed to be said/heard. So good for the soul. Thanks for speaking life, Heather!
Thanks for reading it, Laura! Like I said, I was preaching to the choir. I need this reminder on a daily basis. Contentment can be so tricky, but it’s so important!
Such a good post, I dont know how I missed it before! I can definitely relate to this struggle and all of your tips are spot on to helping become more content. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Kendra! Discontentment in my heart is so ugly and I want it gone! Especially discontentment over something that I am so blessed with!
Such a good post, I dont know how I missed it before! I can definitely relate to this struggle and all of your tips are spot on to helping become more content. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Kendra! Discontentment in my heart is so ugly and I want it gone! Especially discontentment over something that I am so blessed with!