As summer winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the abundance and sweetness this season brings — in our gardens, in our communities, and in our daily lives. A word that keeps coming up for me lately is contentment.

Contentment doesn’t mean that everything is perfect, or that the world is exactly how we want it to be. If that were the requirement, we’d probably never feel content! Instead, contentment is more like a mindset, a way of choosing to register enoughness. It’s the ability to pause and notice what feels okay, good, or even wonderful — whether in our bodies, in our relationships, or in the small details of our daily lives.

Contentment in the Body

Our bodies are always shifting. Some days we wake up with aches and pains, other days we feel light and free. If we required everything to feel perfect before allowing ourselves to be content, we’d spend our whole lives waiting. Instead, we can begin to notice: What feels fine right now? Where is there comfort, steadiness, or ease? Even this small shift can nourish us deeply.

Training the Mind for Enoughness

Neuroscience tells us that humans have a negativity bias — we’re wired to notice what’s wrong, what could hurt us, or what might fall apart. This bias kept our ancestors alive, but left unchecked, it can make us perpetually restless, dissatisfied, or even grumpy as we get older.

The good news is that we can rewire our brains. Just like yoga helps retrain the body, our attention can retrain the mind and heart. By intentionally noticing what’s good — a kind word, a piece of good news, the sweetness of fruit in season — we reinforce neural pathways that support well-being and contentment. Over time, this becomes not just a passing thought but a felt sense in the body.

Planting Seeds of Contentment

I like to think of this practice as gardening. Each time we notice something good, each time we register what feels okay or nourishing, we’re planting seeds of contentment. With practice, those seeds grow into habits, patterns, and a deeper way of being.

So today, I invite you to pause. Maybe place one hand on your heart, one hand on your belly, and take a few slow breaths. Register what feels good, what feels fine, what feels enough. Let yourself soften into that recognition.

This simple practice is a way of cultivating contentment — not just for this moment, but for the seasons ahead.

Practice Together

Contentment is like a muscle; the more we practice, the more accessible it becomes. Each week in my yoga classes, we explore themes like this — weaving together movement, breath, and reflection to create space for awareness and well-being. If you’d like to join me, you can [check out my weekly schedule here].

And in October, I’ll be leading a special women’s retreat, Restore & Reconnect, at Sacred Waters Retreat Center. Together, we’ll take time away from the busyness of daily life to slow down, recharge, and plant deeper seeds of contentment in community. I would love for you to join me.

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