Contentment

I used to think that I want to be happy.

Boy, I was wrong!

As I grow up and become more and more mature, I learn in life that the secret of happiness is not by being happy. It's actually by being content.

Contentment is a state of mind where we may not have everything we want, but we are grateful and thankful for everything we already have.

Contentment is being satisfied with less, and not lured into a trap of having more. Basically, being content. The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol, you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment.

I feel that if we truly want to be happier, we need to learn to be content with what we already have. Whether possession, people, activities, experience, or anything. We should really count our blessings and start making our gratitude list. Focus on the blessings we already possess.

If we keep chasing "happiness", doing anything in the name of "happiness", do whatever we want because we want to be "happy", we are just like a hamster in a wheel. Keep running and chasing and not really realizing that we already given so many good things that other people want! We should not use "happiness" to justify the wrongdoing we did. We shouldn't let go something good because we want something "better". That better is just an illusion. One day you'll wake up and realize that what you had was actually the best thing that ever happened to you. And that "better" is not really better, is actually worst but you were just blind in the moment.

When you can think of yesterday without regret, and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment. Let go of the past. Let it go. It's already gone. Learn the lesson and move forward. Live in the present. And not too worry for the future. You prepare the future by living your best life now, at the present. That's how you would eliminate fear of living in the future.

William E Gladstone once said : be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness.

Contentment is the key of living in peace, calm, and state of tranquility. If you want to be happy, be content.