Now here’s a great leadership quote from an up and coming leader in his mid-twenties:
“Leaders are crafted through trials and challenges, sacrifice and diligence. True leaders aren’t quitters, they are resilient and self-motivating. They keep their goals in mind, and their hearts set on the betterment of themselves and those around them.” ~ Caleb Palmieri (Chicago)
One of the greatest empowering perspectives in life is to choose not to navigate life through the grid of self-interest. As you journey through life, offense, disappointment, failure and regret are inevitable. This is particularly true in respect to broken families and fractured relationships. Yet, if you make a choice to entrust yourself to God and look beyond the brokenness and self-preservationists attitudes of others you will find a greater capacity to love others as Christ loved. I’ve made a choice to look beyond what could potentially hurt or offend me and seek rather to serve in love as a peacemaker. I suggest two powerful resources that have helped me get better clarity on this topic: Philippians 2:1-11 and Tim Keller’s Book, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.
Contentment – that place of soul that rests in the active knowledge that God is enough, despite good and bad circumstances in life (Philippians 4:11-12). 
The Lord Jesus is my portion (Lamentations 3:24) and the well being of my heart (John 14:1), he alone fulfills me, this is especially true in times of suffering and a most needed reminder in times of abundance.
How do I cultivate contentment in my life? Relinquish the “need” to control the outcome. Letting go isn’t to be confused with settling for the status quo but letting go is coming to terms with the fact that God is Sovereign in your sorrow and joy (*Job 40:4-5). He also works providentially through every circumstance of our lives. A good practice in building contentment into the daily grind of life is to practice Philippians 4:6-8. I also like Psalm 73:23-26 as a solid meditation to cultivate contentment in our lives.
Psalm 73:23-26
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
*You really need to read Job 38-41 to get the full impact of Job 40:4-5.
