CONTENTMENT
"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you". – Lao Tzu. Contentment is a state of mind that has nothing to do with money, objects, or other people. Nor does it concern itself with how much we have, or how little. Contentment is an emotional state of satisfaction that can be seen as a mental state, maybe drawn from being at ease in one's situation, body, and mind.
Humans are not designed to be happy, or even content. Instead, we are designed primarily to survive and reproduce, like every other creature in the natural world. A state of contentment is discouraged by nature because it would lower our guard against possible threats to our survival.
Life is too short to ignore the positive things in your life and focusing on what could have been. Been contented means living to the fullest the good of every passing moment. Without contentment, we can never find peace. But complacency is a different matter. If you strive for contentment – balance – instead of the high of happiness, you free your mind to focus on living a more meaningful life, not a life in pursuit. Let me explain: when every day – every thought – is centered around what you THINK will bring happiness, you'll quickly find that it's never enough.
You know contentment can be elusive because we anchor our idea of fulfillment and satisfaction in the sand that is constantly shifting. If you're pinning your hopes, dreams, and happiness on anything worldly, you can expect that such “things” to fade, disappoint or die. So Contentment has to with your state of mind, how happy you are with what you have, and how much satisfaction you find in your present circumstances.
Practicing contentment means using our conscious choice to see what's here and accept things as they are with gratitude. Just like happiness or gratitude, contentment is a mindset that we can develop. That's why it matters in our spiritual practice.
The benefits of contentment
Contentment has the potential to:
- Develop the ability to enjoy what we already have, instead of being relentlessly driven by desire physical health
- Help us find peace and happiness in our everyday life and relationships
- Slow down the cycle of living faster, consuming more, and destroying the environment
By: Oluwapelumi Atanseiye @pearlumie_
Humans are not designed to be happy, or even content. Instead, we are designed primarily to survive and reproduce, like every other creature in the natural world. A state of contentment is discouraged by nature because it would lower our guard against possible threats to our survival.
Life is too short to ignore the positive things in your life and focusing on what could have been. Been contented means living to the fullest the good of every passing moment. Without contentment, we can never find peace. But complacency is a different matter. If you strive for contentment – balance – instead of the high of happiness, you free your mind to focus on living a more meaningful life, not a life in pursuit. Let me explain: when every day – every thought – is centered around what you THINK will bring happiness, you'll quickly find that it's never enough.
You know contentment can be elusive because we anchor our idea of fulfillment and satisfaction in the sand that is constantly shifting. If you're pinning your hopes, dreams, and happiness on anything worldly, you can expect that such “things” to fade, disappoint or die. So Contentment has to with your state of mind, how happy you are with what you have, and how much satisfaction you find in your present circumstances.
Practicing contentment means using our conscious choice to see what's here and accept things as they are with gratitude. Just like happiness or gratitude, contentment is a mindset that we can develop. That's why it matters in our spiritual practice.
The benefits of contentment
Contentment has the potential to:
- Develop the ability to enjoy what we already have, instead of being relentlessly driven by desire physical health
- Help us find peace and happiness in our everyday life and relationships
- Slow down the cycle of living faster, consuming more, and destroying the environment
By: Oluwapelumi Atanseiye @pearlumie_
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