Inspiration and Life

You Can Be Content in Your Life

Find contentment in today’s world

When you hear the word contentment, what comes to mind? Is it how the word makes you feel or something more? For many of us, being content stirs feelings of peace and calm. It can also make us think of being satisfied with our world, and in the right context, it can impart feelings of hope and opportunity.

Let’s look at the power of contentment and how we can build more of it in our lives.

What contentment means in life

There is little better in life than the feeling of being truly content. Before looking at what it can add to your life, let’s start by defining what we mean when we use the words contentment and content:

“contentment (noun) — a state of happiness and satisfaction.” Oxford Languages

“content (adjective) — in a state of peaceful happiness.” Oxford Languages

For some, being content may sound like an impossible state to enter for very long or at all. How can one ever find contentment in the world we live in today? The struggles and strife, attempting to keep your head above water while doing your best to make ends meet. It seems like an unreachable place for some.

For others, contentment is one of the greatest words in the English language. It is a place of peace, life without worry, calm, and quiet. A place where happiness abounds and where you have all you need.

The reality is most people are somewhere between these two states. It may move from pure satisfaction to despair and back again. One minute all seems right with the world, and the next hour or day or week or month, everything is turned upside down.

Such is life. It is uncontrollable and unpredictable in some ways, yet predictable and controllable in others. Let’s look at what you can control and do to create more contentment in your life.

“A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment.” Kashmiri Proverb

Finding contentment

To gain almost anything in life requires letting something go. Fortunately, this is usually an easy trade when it comes to contentment. Why? Because those things you let go of are usually stealing it.

What kind of things can steal your contentment? How about items you want to buy or own? And then there are the things you already own. The following saying says it all!

“What you own owns you!“

You will not find contentment in owning more things, yet you can find it in getting rid of some. Of course, we are talking about material things, not people.

Are you satisfied with what you have, or do you always want more? When you think, “If I only had this or that, I would be content.” Yet you know, as we all do, that is only a lie you tell yourself to justify purchasing it. That kind of contentment quickly disappears and usually leaves you worse off than before. Over time such things become less meaningful and useful. Then you move on to find the next thing to fill that void. Things won’t fill this void. Ever. Live long enough, and you will find this to be true.

“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” Tony Gaskins (1984-present)

Everything you own does own you. The highest cost for anything in life is the time you lose by owning things. Time is a limited and invaluable resource, so it is best to avoid the temptation to purchase anything you think will bring you contentment. If you can’t be content with what you have, you will never be content by adding one more thing outside of essential needs. It will only steal more of your life.

“Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.” Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

Other than God, nothing outside of yourself can bring you true contentment.

Is being content a mind game?

Being content is a bit of a mind game. Your life starts and ends with your thoughts. Your brain controls your thoughts, attitude, views of life, behaviors, actions, who you are, and everything else!

The only thing your brain does not control in your life is what exists in the spiritual realm. If you are a Christian, you know God is in control of the spiritual and allows Satan to exert some influence both there and here.

As a Christian, your contentment and security come from the spiritual — through God’s Holy Spirit and His Son Jesus Christ. God can, of course, influence your non-spiritual and spiritual thinking.

So we come back to the fact that the world you live in originates in your mind. Beware of who you are around as other people can influence what and how you think. However, in the end, it is your mind and your thoughts.

If you believe you can find contentment, you can, and if you don’t believe you can find it, you won’t.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.” Henry Ford (1863–1947)

Mindset is crucial

Practically everything in life comes from one of two mindsets. They determine how you view life.

A fixed mindset will keep you from becoming content because it is self-limiting. It makes you hold back from moving forward to something new that will stretch you. It focuses on what you cannot do and the abilities and capabilities you don’t think you have. You will steer clear of possible failure. A fixed mindset says, “I may fail if I try, so why even bother?”

A fixed mindset restricts your ability to find contentment in life.

Alternatively, you can develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset removes self-induced restrictions and allows you to learn and grow almost any ability or capability. A growth mindset knows you are not stuck with what you have. You will take on a challenge, even if it means failing, because you know failing does not make you a failure.

A growth mindset expands your ability to find contentment in life.

“Contentment makes poor men rich, discontent makes rich men poor.” Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

Appreciation

A primary key to building contentment comes from thankfulness and appreciation. When you are thankful for what you have and who is in your life, you become more content. What you appreciate becomes more valuable to you, and in turn, you become more thankful for it. Therefore a secret to finding more contentment in life is in this single word — appreciation.

“What you appreciate appreciates.” Uncommon Sense (2019)

What is one thing about your life that you appreciate? Start your appreciation list there and begin adding to it. It won’t take long to find many things for which you are thankful. You can create contentment through appreciation in new ways and areas of your life.

Final thoughts

I challenge you to use what you have read here to build more contentment in your life. In summary:

• Get rid of those things that unnecessarily take up your time and life.
• Come to terms with your thoughts and develop a growth mindset.
• Work on creating a deep appreciation for life and the things you value most, including relationships.
• Don’t forget the spiritual and its life-altering ramifications

By practicing these four things, you can greatly improve your life and find the contentment you desire.

If you are a Christian or want to know more about becoming one, please read the following:

I end this article with a personal note from my heart. If you seek the ultimate contentment in life, learn to follow the Creator of the universe by having faith in Jesus Christ. He took all our sins and burdens through His death on the cross and resurrection.

By fully trusting and believing in Christ, you will find the greatest contentment in the world and have the assurance of being with Him for all eternity! Read this promise from Jesus:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV

If you want to become a follower, please send me a note. It would be an honor to help you.

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Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION

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