Hey, -

This month marks 10 years since our eviction.

I can't remember if I shared this with you last week or not.

I’ve been reflecting a lot on that season, and one thing keeps coming back to me.

My spending problem wasn’t really about money.

It was about pressure.

Back then, I felt like I had to prove we were okay.

I wanted to look stable.

I wanted to feel stable.

I wanted to believe we were doing better than we actually were.

So when something felt uncomfortable, I would spend.

Not always big things.

Sometimes it was small purchases that made the day feel lighter.

Sometimes it was things that made our home feel more put together.

But underneath it all was the same hidden driver.

Pressure.

Pressure to keep up.

Pressure to fix things quickly.

Pressure to not look like we were struggling.

And pressure is sneaky.

It disguises itself as responsibility.

It tells you that if you don’t act now, you’ll fall behind.

But pressure rarely leads to wise decisions.

It leads to fast ones.

Contentment started growing in my life when I learned to slow down long enough to ask a better question.

What is actually driving this decision?

Fear?

Comparison?

Insecurity?

Image?

Once you see the hidden driver, everything starts to change.

You don’t just control spending. You understand it.

This week, pay attention to what’s underneath your decisions. That awareness alone can shift so much.

And if you need a verse to help to encourage you, consider Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Chat soon,

Makeda

@Contentment.Made.Simple