I tried an experiment this week. I took away 95% of my daughter’s toys. This was mainly because her behaviors were through the roof since Christmas and I wanted to see if it was due to her feeling overwhelmed with so much STUFF.

Her tantrums were up. Her defiance on a new level. She hopped from toy to toy, never really sticking with one thing for long. And she was completely out of her routine of cleaning up before bedtime – which means I had to clean up from a tornado after she went down. Her whining was a 10 out of 10.

So we did a reset. We eliminated most of her toys (for now) and went completely screen free.

And this is what I found.

She accidentally broke a piece of chalk and turned it into 3 little mice friends just like Cinderella’s. She turned a placemat into a cat. She turned cup coasters into maps for her mice friends.

She created. She smiled. She played contentedly.

Honestly, I was impressed. She did way better than I would have if someone took away 95% of my outlets and entertainment.

It was not lost on me that with so little to play with, she was free to create, and her little body was content.

I’ve noticed this in myself and many adults around me too. Sometimes less is more.

There’s something about not being weighed down by things all around us that helps us breathe easier.

But in this period in history, it’s much harder to keep the clutter at bay – even more than in just the physical sense. The noise, the pressure to do and be more, the 24/7-absolutely-every-where-you-look-tailor-made-for-you marketing in your face.

It’s a lot to process, and it takes real, intentional effort to reduce the clutter, to stifle the want. To get back to a place of contentment.

I recently watched a video of a single mom of five living in a one-bedroom apartment. She proudly showed a tour of her impressively organized space. I was more than a little floored at how well she made the space work for that stage of life. And the thing that also struck me – how happy and content she sounded as she showed each area of her home.

I thought about how amazing it would be if we could all be like that about our homes. Where the emphasis is more on the experiences of life with our babies and loved ones and not on upgrading the kitchen cabinets.

Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with upgrades and wanting nice things. But the seeds of discontentment are sown quickly. They take root when we don’t even realize it, and suddenly we are addicted to our Amazon app and feeling a little jaded every time we walk into our imperfect home.

Preaching to myself here.

And when we spend a little too much time in the world of comparison, the discontent spreads to our jobs, our marriages, and even our children’s accomplishments.

I know one thing. I don’t want to pass discontentment on to my daughter. I don’t want her growing up thinking she needs to constantly do, be, and get more.

Philippians 4:12, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

Paul wrote that from prison, by the way. Talk about an appropriate place to feel discontent.

This verse always convicts me – especially the hungry part as I really can’t imagine feeling content and hungry at the same time. But isn’t that the point? To become so completely assured and content in our relationship with Christ, that we are truly able to be content in any circumstance?

That’s not easy. But it’s possible.  

If you’re struggling with feeling discontent lately, start with gratitude. Contentment is tied so closely to gratitude, you can’t have one without the other.

Start by thanking God for the smallest blessings in your life. Pause and appreciate the dishwasher that makes your job easier even if it isn’t the model you want. Model contentment for your child by not constantly talking about what you wish you had but instead being positive about the things you do. Children pick up on this. And read our blog from last week for even more ideas on how to foster contentment in your life.

Maybe like my daughter, you need a reset. Try eliminating some of your “toys” and entertainment. Shut off TVs, get off social media, and pick up an old hobby.

And maybe read the words of Paul.

Written by: Anna Wetherington. Anna is a therapist, mom, and writer living in Valdosta, GA with her husband and daughter.