Contentment Challenge 2020
Yes, it’s happening again! The Contentment Challenge is happening January - March of 2020, and you are invited to join in!
Many of you have been asking me if I’m hosting another Contentment Challenge, and the answer is yes. I’ve found, for me, it’s been life giving to do this once a year. (If you had told me that the first Contentment Challenge, I would have been like HECK NO!) But it’s amazing the work God has done in my heart, and so many of yours as well.
Like this message I got via instagram, just this week:
“I stumbled across the contentment challenge… it changed my life, and in particular, my marriage. Forever grateful.”
Will I do this every year for the rest of my life? Probably not. I’m not gonna be legalistic about it! But right now, in this material-driven culture, and with 3 little kids, I’ve found that it grounds me, again and again.
But let me back up a bit, for anyone new who might be reading.
What is the Contentment Challenge, you ask? Great question!
The Contentment Challenge
“I will give up shopping for clothes, accessories, household decor, and ‘stuff’ for three months, to focus my heart and mind on the root of true contentment. I will actively pursue fulfilling activities that will replace my addiction to material things.”
Where did this idea come from?
Well, you can listen to the whole story here. But here’s the story in a nutshell:
After paying off our house back in 2012, Will and I accomplished a huge financial goal we had sacrificed and worked for. Weeks afterwards, we began arguing about money wayyyy more than we ever had when living on a tight budget. I thought I could shop at Whole Foods and Anthropologie and do all the things I had sacrificed, and went over budget for 3 months straight. Sorry, Babe.
Then, I spoke at Making Things Happen, and God began to whisper the word “contentment” in my heart. “Nancy, are you really content? with just Me? or do you always have to buy new things?”
I felt a tugging on my heart to give up shopping for 3 months. After fighting the Lord in my head and heart for 2 days straight, I finally gave in. To do this well, I planned it out and created the Contentment Challenge, and it changed my life.
So if you’re curious, I created some guidelines that help guide the 3 months of no shopping and set our hearts straight. I hope this is helpful to you! You of course can make it your own, but I encourage you - pray about it. Consider it. And let God do a work in your heart, life, and finances that you never knew was possible.
The Guidelines:
• For the next 10 days, your homework is the following: prepare your heart, organize your closet, and make any necessary purchases that you might need during these months. (This is not a last minute shopping spree! This is one final trip to the store for items you will need, and the opportunity for you to say your goodbyes to Target.)
• Choose 1-3 inspiring books to read during this time. I would recommend any of the following: Seven, Weird, The Celebration of Discipline, 1000 Gifts, Essentialism. I’m planning to read one book (because newborn life): Cozy Minimalist Home. (Feel free to leave additional recommendations in the comments!)
• Gifts are okay! If someone gives you a new dress or piece of decor during that time, receive it graciously! If you need to buy someone else a gift, by all means, do so. The point is not to be rude, but to learn more of ourselves and the Lord.
• Necessities are okay! If you drop and break your phone, please go get a new one! If you lose your glasses, buy a new pair. Just don’t start justifying new purchases for items that you already have. (“I really need this bathing suit, even though there are 8 in my closet already.”)
• Food: please buy food for yourself and your family :). From my experience, this is a good time to stop grocery shopping at Target and instead choose a grocery store. Some who have done the contentment challenge have chosen to use this as a time to forgo eating out. If you eat out all the time, maybe it’s best for you to limit it to 2x a month. I’ll let you decide what you want to do here!
• You must actively pursue something – anything – that replaces your tendency to buy stuff. Begin thinking about something you love or a hobby you’ve always wanted to do, and make preparations to actually do it. (Reading and Running are my go-to hobbies!)
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If you’d like a little more information about the Contentment Challenge and how to prepare for it, download our FREE extended guide below! You’ll also get monthly emails once the challenge starts in January for accountability and encouragement!