PRACTICE: Take a moment to think about your definition of contentment and complacency. You might want to google the two words.
It just so happens that the journal I used in 2019 began on January 1 and lasted the entire year. I think that’s an awesome coincident. When I began 2020, I decided to review daily what I had written in 2019 after writing my current thoughts. It is an interesting exercise to say the least.
Here’s the point to this meandering. On February 27th, 2019, I wrote, “I am content with my weight, but I am not complacent about it.” When I read the statement in 2020, I thought to myself “Um. Why did I write this and whatever did I mean?” As is often the case, I decided to seek clarity by first ensuring that I understood the definition of the two words…content means to be satisfied with a certain level of achievement…complacent means to become overly content(satisfied) with one’s achievements or lack thereof to the point of smugness.
Putting a concrete definition to the words set me to thinking more deeply about my weight and other issues/challenges that I am facing. I started writing this piece in February. It is now April and a lot has happened between then and now. (Footnote: I am content with social distancing and sheltering in place, but complacency has not nor do I want it to, set in.)
The contentment and complacency statement about my weight was true a year ago. I am satisfied (content) with it for now – I have accepted it as adequate, but I want to do better. To be clear, being content does not mean that I have reached the ideal weight or my personal goal. I can never afford to become complacent about matters of weight. Weight is one my constant struggles. What is yours? I must keep my eye on that ball. Complacency in this arena means weight gain. But what I can do is acknowledge the progress that I have made and use that accomplishment as the springboard to do even more. Complacency is the death of the desire to work toward any goal. Contentment creates the environment for gratitude for and celebration of lessons learned and personal growth. Complacency keeps me stuck in the contented place under the false belief that perhaps this is as good as it gets. COMPLACENCY IS DANGEROUS.
PONDER THIS THOUGHT – Complacency is the first stop on the road to stagnation
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