Everything in our capitalistic, consumer-driven culture is telling us to do more and be more. Nearly half of Americans have a side hustle. This hustle economy tells you to push through, send just one more email, get up earlier, work more, and then when you are hustling, you will be sure to make it.
This year for Lent, I’m giving up the hustle.
Instead of pushing myself day after day, I am going to intentionally and mindfully choose to spend less time hustling and more time just being. I’m going to listen to my soul cries for rest and peace rather than ignoring all those times I hear the whisper, “that’s enough for today.”
I’m not going to pretend like this is going to be easy. The hustle industry has infiltrated the $15 billion dollar/year beauty industry that demands you hustle until you reduce your waist and reduce your food intake to the point of slowly disappearing. The hustle industry has convinced entrepreneurs that they have to hustle to beat the odds that 20% of new businesses fail. The hustle industry sends articles and stories to your eyes and ears enticing you to hustle more so that you can grow your business 5x this year.
This year for Lent, I’m saying no.
No, to the ways the hustle industry has convinced us that we are not enough. No, to the ways the hustle industry tell us that we haven’t done enough today. No, to the ways the hustle industry allures us to believe that if we push just a little harder for just a little longer we’ll make it.
This year for Lent, I’m saying every day, I’m enough.
I will walk in the beautiful affirmation that my mere existence is enough because I am the beloved child of God. I will remind those I love of that same affirmation.