Ambitious? Content? or... Both? | Shady Oak Primary School

AMBITIOUS? CONTENT? OR … BOTH?

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11–12, New International Version of the Bible).

Those words were written nearly 2,000 years ago by St. Paul, who had a mind-numbing résumé in travel, public speaking, organizational management, and scholarship; who had ambitions to achieve even more—and who was at that moment in the rather comfortable but boring (and quite prolonged) situation of living under house arrest, with no certainty on when his case would come to trial or what would happen as a result. If he had been only ambitious to achieve, he would have been a nervous wreck chafing with impatience.

If he had been merely content with whatever life threw at him, he would have whiled away his prison years in indolence. Instead, he made good use of his time by continuing his preaching and by writing Philippians and other letters that would become timeless literature.

Paul knew something that is still uncommon common sense: you don’t have to make an either-or choice between being satisfied with your present situation and working to improve on it. Whatever your resources, you really can have it both ways.

Try this quiz to see how well balanced you are, as a person and a parent, between healthy ambition and healthy contentment.

1. On a typical workday, the number of hours until quitting time, and/or the number of days until the weekend, are never far from my mind.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

2. I am more interested in my children’s school grades than in what they actually learned.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

3. I hate to leave a project temporarily unfinished, even for a fifteen-minute break.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

4. I have long-term goals for at least six months ahead.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

5. My first response to a compliment is to point out where I could have done better.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

6. When my children show me something they’ve completed, I immediately point out improvements that could be made.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

7. I let it ruin my whole day if any of my carefully laid plans are spoiled.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

8. Once I’ve secured a job/living situation/relationship, I assume there’s no need to improve on it or move on from it.

Constantly

Usually

Occasionally

Seldom

Never

Best answers: 1. Occasionally 2. Never 3. Seldom 4. Usually 5. Never 6. Never 7. Never 8. Seldom

How many of your answers are more than one position removed from the suggested best answer? Are you so obsessed with making progress that you forget to appreciate the good in your current situation? Or are you so comfortable in your current situation that you’re letting good opportunities go to waste?