31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 15}: Good Enough

When you look around your house, what do you see?

Do you see all the things that need to be improved, furniture you dislike, projects you are dying to work on next? Do you notice all the imperfections and the long list of improvements you need to make?

Are you actually happy with what you have so far, but still feel compelled to start on a new project or buy something MORE even though you just made an improvement to your home?

What if we all had to leave our home decor exactly as it is today?

No new comforter or pillows, no new paint, no slipcovers, no “Pottery Barn knock off holiday accessory project.” No board and batten. No new lamps. Nothing new at all. {gulp?}

How long could we be content with what we have right now?

For the record, I don’t think being content with what I have means I have to live with everything as it is.

If it is within my means (as in Dave Ramsey approved-cash-method-buying, no big pile of debt that should be paid off instead) and it is within my ability, and perfectionism or self-focus is not taking over my life, then I feel improving my surroundings makes sense.

I love working on my home. It is therapeutic. It is my hobby, my livelihood, and something I enjoy. It is a gift I give my family, and a way to stretch my skills. Improvements often pay off for us in many ways and contribute to our family’s financial security and well-being. Our home is our safe haven in the world. Nothing wrong with caring about my home, right?

However, there is a time when I need to slow myself down long enough to find contentment with what I already have, EVEN if I don’t like it.

I have seasons when I make myself declare my home is “good enough,” even if it is just good enough for now. I use those regular self-imposed times of “no time consuming improvements” to help myself focus on other priorities in life.

When I declare to myself that I am in a “good enough” season, it helps me to refocus my eyes off of ME and MY OWN WORLD. When I really enjoy something, like working on my home or even something like blogging, it is easy for it to become an obsession and a self-absorbed addiction. And that is just not a good thing for me. I need to find balance for my own health and well-being, as well as for that of my family.

I need to step away sometimes.

The aftermath of our small group movie night.

When I am in a “good enough season,” I am freed up all the more to open my home to others and volunteer my time for other things. If I fill up my free time being outwardly focused, I have less free time to obsess over details of my own house.

A “good enough season” keeps me from falling into the trap of perfectionism and helps me remember that I already have all the blessings I need. As a recovering perfectionist, I definitely used to spend way too much time obsessing over things that didn’t really matter. This “good enough” principle has really changed my outlook on homemaking and my life in general.

Even if you are not a perfectionist, we can all fall into the trap of comparisons and jealously of what others have. Giving ourselves permission to STOP for a season and be grateful can help us to be at peace with what we already have.

Do you ever declare a season of “good enough” in your home or life to refocus your priorities?

For the entire series links, click the 31 Days Button below!