Summary

The article discusses the distinction between happiness and contentment, advocating for the pursuit of contentment as a more stable and enduring state of well-being.

Abstract

The article "Happiness vs Contentment — Which Will You Seek?" delves into the nuanced difference between happiness and contentment, emphasizing that while happiness is often transient, contentment represents a profound sense of satisfaction with life despite its imperfections. It suggests that contentment is achieved through a process of acceptance, mindfulness, gratitude, and letting go of expectations. The author outlines five practical steps to cultivate contentment: accepting life as it is, living in the present, practicing gratitude, taking mindful breaks, and releasing expectations. These steps are presented as a means to foster a deeper, more sustainable sense of peace and fulfillment, contrasting with the fleeting nature of happiness.

Opinions

The author posits that contentment is a state of being that endures beyond momentary pleasures, suggesting it is a more reliable source of inner peace than happiness.
It is implied that acceptance of one's current life circumstances, including acknowledging areas for improvement, is crucial for achieving contentment.
The article conveys the opinion that living in the present and not dwelling on the past or future is essential for maintaining a state of contentment.
Gratitude is highlighted as a key practice for contented individuals, fostering a positive outlook and reducing the desire for more material or immaterial possessions.
The author believes that taking short, mindful breaks throughout the day can enhance one's appreciation for life and aid in achieving contentment.
Letting go of expectations is presented as a way to avoid disappointment and discontentment, allowing for a more flexible and open-minded approach to life's uncertainties.
The personal narrative of the author suggests that the journey to contentment is ongoing and can be challenging, but it is ultimately rewarding and leads to a more fulfilling life.

Happiness vs Contentment — Which Will You Seek?

“Happiness comes after contentment.” E.A. Cabaltica

What’s the difference between happiness and contentment? Happiness can be fleeting. You may enjoy meeting a friend for lunch or a trip to the cinema but afterward, you still feel low.

Contentment, however, is longer-lasting. It’s a state of being. Deep down, you feel that all is well with yourself, your life, the people around you, and the world at large, even if all those things are imperfect, as they will of course continue to be.

So, how do you reach a state of contentment, rather than fleeting joy? That’s a good question! I think it’s an on-going process. As you travel along the road to contentment, you’ll feel slightly more satisfied as time goes by.

Here are five steps you can take to feel more content every day.

1. Try to Accept Your Life Exactly as It Is

It’s not easy to accept your life exactly as it is. You may feel as if there are many things wrong with your life, such as:

Not having a fulfilling job
Not earning enough money
Being in debt
Being single when you’d love to be part of a couple
Living in a small home with no outdoor space.

You may also have negative feelings and regrets about your life, such as:

Feeling like a failure because of x, y and z
Regretting not having taken certain opportunities
Decisions that you made in the past that you now feel were not right for you.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, you’ll feel more content if you can accept your life exactly as it is right now. That doesn’t mean denying that there are some (or perhaps many) things you’d like to change.

It’s possible to accept your life as it is whilst also acknowledging that some things need to change.

2. Live in The Present as Much as Possible

Often, we lose a sense of contentment because we are either looking back to the past or looking forward to the future. Both tend to cause unrest.

Whenever we think about situations that upset us in the past or events we’d like to happen in the future, we’re creating discontentment within.

Try not to criticize yourself for having made certain decisions in the past. Try to accept that the past is over and done with. You can’t ever go back, so you might as well just accept the past for what it was and turn your back on it as much as possible.

Similarly, you don’t know what the future holds, so there’s no point in worrying about what may or may not happen. Things often turn out quite differently from how we expect them to, so what’s the point of worrying or trying to control things?

The key to a contented life is to live in the present moment. All you need to do is to focus on what’s happening at this moment. And, guess what? You can cope with it, whatever it is. Actually, you’ll cope with it better if your brain isn’t cluttered with regrets from the past and worries about the future.

I know that it’s not easy to live in the present, though. It takes practice, day in and day out. I find that it helps to set an intention at the beginning of the day that I will live in the present and go with the flow of life, without fighting or resisting what each moment brings.

Then, if I find my mind wandering during the day, as it inevitably does, I gently remember my intention to focus on the present moment and bring my awareness back to what is going on in front of me right now.

3. Live with Gratitude

Contented people are grateful people. They are grateful for every single thing they have in their lives today.

Start a daily gratitude practice by writing down at least three things you’re grateful for every morning and every evening. That way, you’ll look out for the positive aspects of your day and develop a more positive attitude over time.

Extend your attitude of gratitude by practicing it in other ways and by practicing appreciation. The more grateful and appreciative you are for what you have right now, the more content you’ll feel.

Gratitude also helps you to accept your life as it is. It stops you from wanting more, more, more, which is a common theme in our society.

4. Take a 5-Minute Mindful Break

Take time during your day to have a five-minute mindful break. Sip a steaming cup of coffee or tea while staring out of the window. Feel grateful that you’re alive, that you can see trees, flowers or your neighbor’s laundry on the washing line.

Engage your other senses. Truly smell the aroma of your coffee or tea. Let it linger in your mouth. Close your eyes and see if you can pick out the bitter taste of coffee and the sweeter taste of milk or sugar.

This exercise helps you focus on the present and accept your life as it is, being grateful for being alive and being able to savor small pleasures.

5. Let Go of Expectations

We all have expectations of how our whole lives should go, and expectations of the outcome of any uncertain situation, such as applying for a job or trying to buy or rent your next home.

As we all know, expectations can lead to disappointment, discontentment, discouragement, or disenchantment. Whenever we really, really want something, we’re in danger of feeling these feelings if we don’t get whatever it is we want.

When you let go of your expectations and say, “I’ll be happy whatever happens,” you feel lighter.

There are many things in life we can’t control. Instead of fighting or resisting this truth, just accept it. Maybe things happen for a bigger reason that we’re not aware of. So, just do your best, and try to let go of your expectations in all situations.

In Conclusion

Contentment eluded me for many years. Looking back, I realize I wasted a lot of time worrying about the future and agonizing about the past. None of that helped.

Now, I feel much more contented with my life as it is. There are still some things I’d like to change and I’m learning the importance of patience and perseverance as I take one step forward at a time.

It’s taken me several years to get to the point where I feel contentment most days. However, sometimes I still do get caught up in worries and negative thoughts.

When that happens, I bring my awareness to the present moment and think of some things I’m grateful for. Then, I ask myself if my expectations have been ruining my day and if I can accept my life just as it is right now. Sometimes it’s a battle to do this and it takes some time. But, over time, I’ve found it’s become quicker and easier.

Life is a journey. Take your next step on the road to contentment today.