Hey Queen,
Read this when your soul is craving peace and sustainable pace.
On the first Saturday of 2026, I nestled into the corner of my couch and used this list to choose my growth values of the year (different than core values – these are the stretchy ones)
https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/
The one that kept jumping out no matter how many times I tried to steer away was
CONTENTMENT.
I’ve never felt drawn to contentment before, because I’ve always enjoyed the chase. The climb. The journey to the next thing. I have always been afraid that choosing contentment would keep me small and every part of my longs to be big.
But I couldn’t escape it, so I made it one of my three growth values for the year.
Almost immediately after this, I opened the Zillow app (just to browse, you know?) and an hour later my husband Alex and I were on our way to an open house.
Although we’re very happy in our current home and didn’t even know what we were potentially looking for, the whole drive there I felt the familiar buzz of “What if this is the next thing? What if life is about to change on a dime?”
Long story short, it wasn’t our house. And on the way home, I realized that within the same hour that I had decided to practice contentment, I threw myself at the next big, shiny (definitely unnecessary) thing.
But um… YEAH I want my dream house! YEAH I want to keep growing! So this contentment thing, how’s it going to work for someone as hungry and excitable as me?
What’s the balance? The fine line between contentment and staying small?
At this point it was clear that God called me to grow in this area for a reason.
So I decided to trust His process, and I deleted the Zillow app. I shifted my focus onto the present moment. Again and again, I chose to look around me instead of into my mind’s visions for the future.
And then something magical happened.
Important context: A month earlier at The Fun Side Retreat, I realized my highest form of service is when I’m truly in flow, so I declared that I want to master getting into flow state anytime, anywhere.
God heard me, and said “Okay let’s do this. I’ll give you exactly what you need to get what you want.” (Always a daring arrangement to make with the universe)
And quickly I learned that there are pre-requisites to accessing the flow:
Slowing down. Being present. Allowing contentment.
This is why I was so drawn to contentment – because it is the walk that comes before the run.
As soon as I chose to take the first step and practice slowing down and being present and content, I witnessed a version of myself step forth that shocked me.
Her breath was so steady. She was completely locked in on each moment, each person in front of her. She spoke with tact and pace and curiosity and confidence. She navigated deep water conversations with grace and ease. She was no longer intimidated or anxious. She was decisive, grounded and powerful.
She was the leader I’ve been studying and striving to become for years.
Was she in there all along? Did she just arrive? How long has my hustle and hurry been pummeling the parts of me that are ready to shine quietly, yet profoundly?
My typical anecdote for hustle culture is JOY and feeling ALIVE. But contentment has entered the scene – and she is shaking things up in more ways than I expected.
In just a couple weeks, I’ve seen that contrary to popular belief, contentment dances well with growth.
They move about the room with harmony and synergy and together we get lost in the music. We become fully immersed in the magic of life, and forget about all the insecurities and limitations that once loomed like shadows.
With contentment at the core, growth becomes a new type of effortless.
If you’re a practical gal and all of this is getting a little vague, I got you. Here’s what the balance looks like in action:
- Pouring into the design and decor of my current home instead of looking for the next.
- Going deeper with the women who are in my community before focusing on reaching more. (which is a growth strategy in and of itself)
- Focusing on using the knowledge and skills I’ve built before deciding I need to learn something new.
In essence – slowing down to speed up. It’s real, and it’s yummy.
If this is something you’re curious to explore, a good starting point is to
💡 Define what contentment means to you and how you’d show up differently if you embodied it daily
Then dive in and as always – enjoy.
Until next time
Xo – Kari