The Road to Contentment #1

A blog follower commented on last week's blog about small spaces by saying, "They look like well decorated jail cells to me...but if it's the only only home I had, I would be happy there."


That led to me think about being content.


When I was a kid there was an ad for Borden's milk that said it came from contented cows. The television commercial showed an animated pretty female looking cow, named Elsie, happily chewing her cud. That's the first image that comes to my mind when I think of the word - "content."



Research shows that one's actual circumstances have very little do with happiness and that it is rare that it just happens. A feeling of happiness is a combination of one's personality, thoughts, and behaviors.


Now please, DO NOT think that I am saying that if a person is homeless or hungry that they can think their way into shelter and a meal. I am NOT saying that. I am talking about the feeling of happiness in a person who already has their basic needs met.


Why all this concern with contentment? Well, lately I have not been feeling as content as I would like.
And since I am a do-er and a fixer at heart, even though I try to practice "just being"....my next question is:


What are the facets of cultivating contentment?
What can one DO to foster an attitude of contentment?



I believe the first thing is to BE GRATEFUL for what you already have.
Many times when we feel discontent, it is because we are wanting something we don't have.
or...We are living out of mindset of scarcity instead of acknowledging that we have enough.



One of the mantras I use when I am worrying about something that I cannot change is "Just let go, you already have everything you need."



And it is true. I do, right this minute, have everything I need. I don't have everything I want...and how boring would that be anyway...but I do have everything I NEED.
Next month I might not have everything I need but all I can do about that right this moment is what I can do now to plan for and work for next month.


In reality, all of us could be without a home or a vehicle or...insert words here...in an instant. There are no guarantees.


That leads me to think of the second thing one can do to foster an attitude of contentment.....but you'll have to wait unti next time for that.