Are you the kind of person that always looks to see what kind of life your neighbor is living? Or how much your friend’s dress cost? Not happy in your marriage, friendship or work? If you filled yes to this questions, then you need to learn the art of contentment. Contentment means to be happy with what you have who you are and where you are. Its respecting the reality of the present and appreciating what you have and where you want to be. Constant striving for more and not enjoying what you have or where you are at the moment will drive you crazy.
Things do and will change. Have the attitude that they will change for the better. The attitude that you have for the present will determine your stress level and even if you are in the right space or not to accomplish what you want for yourself. As with anything, learning to master contentment takes practice and here are a few techniques that will help you bring contentment into your life;
- Stop buying things you don’t need, when you feel the need to buy something ask yourself whether it’s a need or a want if the item is a want ask yourself why you are not satisfied with what you have now. Give yourself time to think and see if you will still need it.
- Pause, when you find yourself unhappy with someone or something pause. Take a deep breath and remind yourself to accept that person as they are and embrace their good qualities or to look on the bright side of any situation.
- Live in the moment, don’t postpone happiness by waiting for a day when your life is les busy or less stressful. That day may never come. Instead look for an opportunity to savor the small pleasure of daily life. Focus on the positives of today rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
- Learn to enjoy simple things that don’t cost money, meaningful conversation, walking in the park, reading a book. These things are free and can offer more joy than more expensive endeavors.
- Practice gratitude, each day identify one thing or person that enriches your life. Write your thoughts in a journal, when you find yourself unhappy take a moment to review your entries and think about all the good things in your life.
Even after you’ve ticked off all the achievement from your list, you still don’t feel at ease. You may remain an easy feeling that something is still missing. Do you know what that missing thing is? Its contentment. It’s almost impossible to stress how important it is to be contented in life but the joy of being satisfied with the little you have come with so much advantages which include;
- Peace of mind
- Happiness
- Stronger relationship
- Simplicity
- Distinguish wants and needs
Instead of wanting your possessions to grow, you can start working on personal growth. Because at the end of the day inner peace fueled by contentment may matter more than the car you drive or even the house you live in.
