Contentment - My Word For The Year 2023

Contentment, it's something we all aim for. It could be for just one area of your life or for every area of your life. We should always be seeking contentment in our life. I know, for some, it can be difficult, especially when times are tough. In 2022, I struggled to find contentment in my life for long periods. There weren't many occasions where I felt some sort of contentment during the last 12 months. That's why, at the start of the New Year, I wanted to make it my mission to seek and gain as much happiness and contentment as soon as possible.

I was inspired to find a word I would like to represent my 2023 after seeing Jenny's post on Instagram. I even chose a word for the year 2020 before it all kicked off with the pandemic. As someone who doesn't like to set herself too many goals, I really wanted to do the alternative to that.

As 2020 was a bit of a write-off for us all, I felt like I couldn't really take advantage of the word I had chosen for that year - focus. I suppose, in a way, the word focus did have its part to play in 2020. To keep my mind occupied from the constant shielding, I focused on the things I enjoy ie blogging. 

But anyway, back to 2023. I wanted to choose a word for this year as I haven't done so in previous years. Contentment felt like the perfect word for me to choose. I've been figuring out the ways where I can find contentment in my life. I've come up with one simple sentence that I know will bring contentment back into my life -

Doing the things that I love.

It doesn't get simpler than that. I want to do the things that I know always bring me joy and happiness. With my mental health being up and down like a rollercoaster in 2022, I kind of stopped doing some of the things I love, or I lost that love and motivation to do the things that make me happy. Contentment means being in a state of happiness and satisfaction - so doing the things I love will surely bring me that bit of contentment my life so desperately needs. 

When thinking about the things, situations and people that bring me happiness, I realised that it doesn't have to be the biggest thing. It's the little things that can bring so much contentment and joy. Whether that be nature walks, exercising, spending time with family and friends or travelling - these are the types of things that make me happy. 

Contentment also means being at peace in one's situation, body and mind. I would love to be able to say by the end of 2023, that I am at peace with my body and mind. I would love to be able to accept my body for the way it looks, and accept that my mind will never be perfect. I'm not sure if there is a state of having perfect mental health. I don't think I'll ever have 100% perfect mental health. All I can do is strive to be as happy as I know I can be and deal with any blips as they come along. 

I would love to know what you think of my word for the year ahead. Contentment is something I hope we can all strive for. After a sort of shitty 2022, I need some sort of contentment in my life in 2023. 

Let me know if you have a word for your 2023! Would yours be contentment too?