Do you consider yourself a contented person? While some people are always on the lookout for more to have, do, achieve, and desire, some are simply content. They are grateful for the moment and everything in it. Rather than thinking about how to pursue contentment, they focus on fueling happiness. But happiness is a temporary emotion, and believe it or not, contentment is a choice.

Something that a lot of people do when they're young is imagine their life as an adult. Teenagers try to map out their future by deciding on jobs, what they want in a partner, and even the type of home and décor they will have. It's a normal part of the human process. The problem is that a lot of us want more, even if we have plenty. It doesn't matter how much you have, it's never enough. Wanting is an endless and impossible cycle.

You can’t have everything because you will always want something else, something more. When you realize that, you will start to recognize how that want is negatively impacting your contentment levels. The more you want, the less content you are because it feels as though you will never have it.

Working on Contentment

You can train yourself to be a more content person. And, as you practice this you will notice a difference in your contentment levels, but it's an ongoing journey. While happiness is a fleeting emotion, contentment is a long-term state of being.

As an example, a jogger is running on a hot day. There is a long stretch on their route that is fully exposed to the sun. Halfway through the run, they reach a point where they are desperate for shade, a cool breeze, or a drink of water. Suddenly, a cool breeze rolls in from nowhere. It was exhilarating, but it went as quickly as it came. The bliss of the breeze didn't last long and when it faded, the jogger was left feeling more frustrated and annoyed that the wind disappeared. It didn't take them long to realize how ridiculous it was that they were annoyed at their inability to control the weather. They were allowing a temporary emotion to control them.

If you want everything to be exactly as you want all the time, then you will never be content with life. If you can find satisfaction and gratitude in most things, then you will most likely always feel content with your situation. You can't avoid misfortune in life, but you can build an unshakeable level of contentment. How often do you get angry when things don't go your way? How often do you complain about silly things and expend energy on things that don't deserve your attention? It's something we're all guilty of, but some people feel it more than others.

Contentment isn't the fulfillment of the things you want. Contentment is the acceptance of how things are.

By practicing contentment, you make a conscious decision to see your life as it is and accept it with gratitude. That doesn't mean you can't strive to better yourself or work on growing as a person. It means that even if you don't, you are content with where you are.

You aren't chasing more because you're unhappy. You aren't chasing more because you think it's necessary for your contentment. Your motivation is different, which means your intent is pure. There is nothing passive about contentment; it is a choice that you need to make time and time again. Contented people are calmer, more understanding, and open-minded. It's an internal attitude that you have total control over.

Life Contentment as a Mindset

Happiness is subjective. At times, it can feel abstract. Some people are happy just getting three square meals a day; others can be happy with a single meal. Some people require high levels of success to feel happy, and some are happy working 16 hours in a service role. Some people have to be the best at what they do to be happy and, others are happy being average. Some people need it all, and some people feel like they have it all, even if they don't.

The thing is, in all situations, happiness is temporary. While everyone else chases happiness, smart people are more interested in achieving contentment. The good news about contentment is that it's a mindset, it's a choice that you make just like positivity is. There's more good news if you're a naturally positive person or, someone who is working towards being a positive person. You will have an easier time tapping into your contentment.

Contentment boils down to acceptance of your lot in life. That doesn't mean you give up on setting goals. It doesn't mean you give up on being a better person or earning more money. What it does mean is you don't allow the lack of these things to drag you down. You can be content with your job right now even if you are working towards a promotion. You can be content with having one child, even if you are trying for another.

While happiness is subjective, contentment is its own animal. What you experience in life can derail your happiness, but your contentment can remain intact. See, happiness is a fleeting emotion, but true contentment lasts.

Contentment is all in your mindset. As a positive person, it's easier to find things to celebrate. It's easier to feel grateful for the meal on your table. As a negative person, it's easier to look at a plate with a sigh, wishing it was something else.

Life will always present challenges, and there will always be pain. The most contented people can laugh as they navigate their problems and still find the positives in life while coping with what's going on.

There is nothing lucky about contentment. It is an active choice that people make, and it is one that you can make for yourself every morning you wake up. If you're struggling to imagine how you can achieve it for yourself, start by accepting the things you can't change. You only have so much control in life, and it's over yourself. You control you and, that is it. There are things, situations, problems, and people you simply cannot change or even influence. Accept them, to begin with, and recognize that allowing it to make you unhappy is not worth it. From there, you can work on accepting the rest of yourself.

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