A few weeks ago I shared how my word of the year is simplify. Since then, as I’ve been trying to simplify my life, I’ve found my mind spinning out of control more than ever.
I’m so dramatic. What I mean is that I’ve had more on my mind that I normally do.
As I was in a rainy cab ride on Sunday, I started to understand what was causing the disconnect. I started jotting notes in my phone to write this post.
What I realized was that simplifying my life goes against my constant need to hustle. I have this unshakable desire to always be bettering myself - to be working on making the things in my life bigger and better.
bettering my finances
bettering my relationships
bettering my body
bettering this blog
I stopped for a moment and started to think about how those things are what fill my mind almost all day, every day. Combine those thoughts with feeling inadequate and like I’m always “just this many steps” from achieving this ideal life and…it is EXHAUSTING, to say the least.
It got me thinking - how much hustle is too much hustle? Should we sometimes take a break from this constant need to better ourselves? Is it okay to be happy with our lives just the way they are in this very moment?
The truth is that sometimes hustling is actually striving, and being content doesn’t always mean you’re settling.
It seems as though we’re constantly being told two contrasting views on this.
One view is - be happy, thankful, and content with your life no matter what!
And the other is - good things come to those who hustle. Don’t dream it - do it. The best is yet to come.
So…which is it?? In New York the overwhelming mindset is the latter, and that’s what I’ve been latched onto for most of my adult life. But now I’m getting to the point where I see the value in that first mindset.
Don’t get me wrong - I definitely think it’s possible to balance the two, and that’s a balance hope to find soon.
But maybe sometimes there’s a time and a place to take a break from trying to be better…to just look at life for what it is right NOW, and stop putting so much pressure on ourselves to reach the next big thing.
“…for 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 Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13
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What are your thoughts? Do you consider yourself a content person? A hustler?
Such a great conversation, I too feel a push and pull between being content and present and the hustle. I feel as though there is a fine line between finding a place of peace and also striving to be more, while still being present and grateful. Sounds like a lot to juggle at once.
I’m a hustler, but I’ve also learned to take breaks! I carve out time and do whatever is needed to not burn myself out.
That’s a great habit to have! I need to practice doing that more for sure
Check this out… I’m a fan. I love you and your hustle. Here’s the question though. Are you being content or are you being content? You truly can be both, but one doesn’t necessarily lead to the other and vice versa. I’d assume neither do. Here’s as simple as it gets… Be you. If you want to get to live, then let your self go. That was not a spelling error. It’s beautiful. There’s no plank in my eye on this one. Love love love. I’m blind and you’re beautiful. Keep up the good work. You’re awesome. Your conscience is God. Listen to it.
this is something i constantly think about and sort of struggle to balance, too, especially in NYC. i find i’m happier when i’m constantly moving and doing and talking and running and learning and writing and being out and about with people, and i love filling up my life with activities and relationships — and i can feel myself losing the art of just “being” and having quiet time and reflecting and praying and focusing on my spiritual life and who God really is to me, and who i am in Him. (love that Phil. quote you ended on) we are a culture of choices, and the driven among us always want more and better and faster and happier and prettier and smarter and and and…and we strive for it all, because striving seems good. i definitely feel this tension and catch myself all caught up in the whirlwind, and i can’t even say that i mind it, most of the time — which probably means i need to tend to myself and slow down a bit more. PS — i love when you put those “hustle” graphics in b/c that’s my nicknames (sounds just like my last name).
Yes, you took the words out of my mouth! Love that that’s your nickname! 😛
p.s. if you’re around you should come to church this sunday! <3
I feel this way a lot! I have a hard time deciding which way is better, do I work, work, work and give up a lot of my time in hopes of accomplishing/achieving something greater later, or relax a bit more and take things as they are. I wish I had the answer to this too. I guess it’s just good mix of both, which is hard to do. Being happy and deciding what it is that makes me feel that way, is what’s important to me and keeps me from being an emotional basket case lol Hang in there girl
This. I’m exactly the same. Trying to find the balance.
Simplify. Digging that word for sure!
I’m definitely a constant mover and hustler - but I worry that if I take down time, that I won’t ever get done what I want to get done! Like you, I want to improve my finances, kill it at my job, and make a little money off of my blog on the side, all whilst teaching fitness classes! I’m also looking for ways to simplify, and my biggest challenge at this point in my life is balance. I’m still looking for it - if you find it, let me know!
hehe, will do! 😛
I’m such a hustler, almost to a fault. This past year, my company placed me in a leadership program and I had the opportunity to work with an amazing life coach for 9 months. Around month 7, I had achieved several of my goals that I originally set. My coach asked how/what I was feeling, and I immediately started rattling off a list of the NEXT things I want to accomplish. She said, “Colleen, what’s the point in setting goals if you’re not going to take time to enjoy the moments when you accomplish them?”
That TOTALLY resonated with me, and it’s something I’m mindful about now. It’s good to hustle, but it’s important to enjoy and savor the moments (whether that’s days, weeks, months, etc) when you’ve actually accomplished what you set out to do.
That’s what i’ve been asking myself too! I also think about the fact that if you would have asked my 3-years-ago self what I thought about where I’m at now, I would have been THRILLED! Yet here I am still feeling like I need to do more more more. It’s not that I’m going to stop going for goals, but stopping and recognizing how far we’ve already come is so important!
p.s. seems like you’re killing it at your job, though 😉 xo
I’ve always been a hustler/perfectionist and felt like I thrived more when I was working towards something. Lately, I’ve realized the toll it took on my self-esteem (it only took me 25 years to realize that!)
Too much hustling can also lower our self-esteem because in focusing on what we need to improve, we are, in a way, convincing ourselves there IS something to improve. I think as a first step we need to focus less on what we can improve, and more on WHY we want to improve it. If the hustling increases our overall happiness and improves our well-being, then it’s a good idea. But if it ONLY causes stress and self-loathing, perhaps we should try to simply work towards feeling content instead. I don’t see that as settling. In a way, I see it as being confident about who we are.
That is SUCH a good point. It’s like constantly being caught in the comparison trap, but the comparison is to our ideal/future selves. crazy!
This is so refreshing to hear from a New Yorker or American in general, where I feel like it is almost looked down upon to do nothing for a day even when you very well have the time to do so. I don’t feel as pressured to work as a Californian, heck half of the people I know don’t here but it doesn’t seem to be sttigmatised. When people asked me what I did last year, which was decide not to work and travel, people ask me what I do, and I said “oh, kick it.” That got some odd looks in NYC.
Ack, I can so relate! I vacillate between wanting to do all the things! Plan trips, find a better job, start a new project. I think things were getting stale for me last year, so this year I was determined to shake things up and be a better me. Unfortunately all that pressure sometimes ends up in binge-watching Orange is the New Black, ordering Chinese food and not leaving the couch all day (i.e., all day Sunday). Oops. I think it all comes down to the saying, You can do anything, but you can’t do everything. I have such varied interests, but I think I need to work on simplfying, and staying focused on one thing at a time.
This really helped me, thanks Gracie. It is such a hard balance