With the year coming to an end, everyone is reflecting on what they have achieved in the last year. What made this year good, bad or ugly and what are we learning from it? All of us look back and think about our successes and failures but none of us look for contentment. None of us look back and be happy with what we have, it’s human to want more. But can we change that? Can we find contentment in life?
Contentment is a state of freedom wherein you are happy with what you already have in life. You are satisfied with your possessions, situation, status, and life. It is about finding that freedom to let go and not feeling the need to look for more possessions or a different life. It is the state of being happy with yourself and your life.
You might argue that in life it is always best to want more, to look to be better and to be more successful. So, why be content with what you have?
But to be honest, when you stop looking and wanting for more things in life is when you actually start living and understanding your life. In fact, when you find contentment you will automatically see your life becoming better, happier, and more successful.
Contentment changes your outlook toward society and reduces your stress levels because you stop looking for more things or a better life. It makes you feel more relaxed, which will make you feel healthy and energized and give you the strength to do and achieve more in life. With contentment comes a sense of freedom because you are happy with who you are and your life and start enjoying this beautiful life that you have.
But in this day and age, where material gratification is promoted everywhere possible, it might be difficult to find contentment. You can’t achieve contentment overnight, it is a process and a journey that you have to embark on to make your life more meaningful. While some might do it soon, some might take a while to reach this sense of freedom. But what’s important is that you take a step towards this beautiful content life.
To be honest, there is no set formula to achieve contentment in life. But there are small steps you can take in everyday life that can set you on the path to finding contentment. Here are six simple things you can do starting today if you wish to find this freedom in life.
Gratitude is something that each one of us should practice even if we are not looking for contentment. Being grateful for life is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Contentment and gratitude go hand-in-hand. A grateful person is one who is happy with what they have and never focuses on what they lack. When you are grateful for your life every day, you will automatically start feeling a sense of contentment.
With the world developing around us and everything being available at the click of a button, we have gotten used to finding contentment in material things. Feeling low? Go buy new shoes! Not happy with your car? Buy a new one! Your child is being too cranky today? Buy him/her a new toy!
Life has become all about replacing old things with new ones to find happiness. But what we don’t understand is material possessions can never bring us happiness, it only increases our desires. This leads to a vicious cycle of discontentment with life. So, break this habit of buying new things. Stop buying things you don’t need. Being happy and living a minimal life is the way to go if you are looking to achieve contentment.
When you compare yourself to others you will always be disappointed. Because there will always be someone who is better off than you, someone who looks happier, or someone who is more successful. But actually, it is all in our minds.
It is always best to focus on yourself. You are unique, you are capable, and you are doing your best. You should always prioritize yourself and never compare yourself to others.
When you reach out to others and share your knowledge, your time, and your money, you will see how it makes you feel better and happy. In the process of helping others, you will find contentment with yourself and who you are.
You can only be happy when you want to be happy. People will always have many things to say but you know yourself best. Avoid negative people and keep yourself surrounded by people who want you to grow, learn and develop as a person. People who will never bring you down. Along with people, you need to avoid negative thoughts. Change your attitude towards life and stop thinking that you will be happy when you find this or buy this. You can be happy if you want to be and not by any material possession.
Contentment is a freedom that you can give yourself. Finding contentment means finding joy with what you have and your life but never with who you are. Be proud of what you have achieved and where you are but always have room for improvement. The idea is to be content with what you have but never with who you are because when that happens you become complacent. In life, there is always room to learn new things, to grow and develop as a person.
Break the cycle of wanting everything and more in life and work towards finding this sense of calm and happiness called contentment. You will see how your life transforms when you find happiness within. It won’t happen overnight but what is important is to take a step toward contentment today.
