If you are a parent, do you remember what it was like when you had your first child when you
first brought him or her into this world? All your child ever wanted for the first few months of
their time on earth was to eat, sleep, and be protected. That was all your child needed to be
content.
Now that your kids have gotten older, they seem to want more, more toys, more food, more
everything. Even after you have given them what they have requested, they still want something else, and it could come across as they are never satisfied. Even you as an adult might find yourself wanting more money, more clothes, a bigger home, a nicer car. Just like your kids, even after getting what you want, you are happy for a little while and begin to want
something else; in essence, you find that you are discontent.
Although material possessions and accomplishments do bring some form of happiness, they are always short-lived. True lasting happiness comes by being thankful for what one has and
practicing contentment.
Contentment does not mean the absence of desire; it rather is the practice of appreciating the present while working towards the future and trusting that what is meant for you would come to you.
There is a fine line between ambition and greed, and if you find that you lack a particular
possession or accomplishment causes you to lose sleep or get frustrated, then you might have
crossed that line.
It is important to practice contentment as an individual because it brings peace of mind,
happiness, and builds stronger relationships. A content individual is always genuinely happy
about the successes of others and never jealous. Here are a few ways to practice contentment.
Practice Thankfulness
Without gratitude, contentment can not be developed, they are inseparable. And a person who is thankful is one who has learned to reflect on the positive things in their lives, not the things they lack. The basic task of beginning the practice is bound to turn your attention back to the many positive things you already have.
Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
Comparing your life with that of another will always lead to unhappiness. There will always be
people "appearing" to be better off than you, who seem to live the perfect life apparently. But be informed that we do contrast the worst we think about ourselves with the better judgments we make about others. Their lives are never as perfect as your mind makes them seem. You are one of a kind. You are very special. Your life is totally different. Make learning how to stop comparing yourself with others a priority.
Drop the Shopping Habit
It has been rooted in our life for all of us that the best approach to propagate dissatisfaction is to purchase the visible item that appears to trigger the discontentment. There is barely any time
expended identifying the real source of the dissatisfaction. Were you unhappy with your
wardrobe? Go purchase some fresh clothes. Not happy with your own vehicle? Go acquire
another one. We got into the trap of spending more money to relieve our dissatisfaction.
We need to break the habit. Material objects can never completely fulfill your heart's needs (that's why you still get dissatisfied again). The next time you acknowledge the surface of discontent in your life, refuse to give in to that bad habit. Instead, commit to a better
understanding of yourself, and why this item & lack causes discontentment.
Remember, your kids are always watching what you do, and if they see that you do not attach
your happiness to material possessions or accomplishments, they would do the same! You would be raising kids who are content confident individuals.
Download the Meditation for Kids App and learn simple ways to live a contented life for your kids.