The Incredible Power of Contentment
It can happen to anyone – just when you thought you had everything under control and your life is going great, a nagging feeling of something not being right pops up out of nowhere. Your life might seem perfectly fine to other people, but if you’re feeling like there’s something missing – it won’t seem that great from your perspective. That’s where contentment can come to the rescue – it’s crucial to understand your life situation and become aware that it’s in human nature to always crave for more. This should be your goal but, as always, it’s easier said than done, so here are a few guidelines to get you started.
Let past stay in the past
You did or didn’t do something months or even years ago and now you regret it? Stop for a second and ask yourself why. Do you feel like you’d be happier if you accepted that business offer or that blind date? The truth is – you can never know how things might turn out so there’s no need to beat yourself about it. As a matter of fact, ask any psychologist and they tell you the same thing – stop living in the past. Accept the decisions you once made – there must’ve been a reason behind them. Once you realize that, you’ll be ready to move on.
Find a new hobby
The feeling of discontent might be connected to your job or neighbourhood you live in but those are the things that are not that easy to change. Just the thought of finding a new job might make you even more anxious. Start with something small, like finding a new hobby. How you spend your spare time is a decision left completely to you, so try to make the most out of it. Start a blog you always wanted but never had the courage to. Finally, get back to those knitting tutorials you’ve been bookmarking since forever, get some fine yarn and learn a new skill. You never know – a hobby can turn into a full-time job so you’ll basically kill two birds with one stone.
Feel all of your emotions
Being content doesn’t mean being happy all the time but feeling free to express all kinds of emotions. Don’t think of sadness as a sign of weakness. On the contrary – showing your suffering is extremely brave. Always remember that happiness is not the absence of sadness. The same goes for all other emotions – once you understand what you feel, you’ll be able to confront it and control it better. Besides, you should be aware that there are no negative emotions – everything you feel might serve a purpose. You can analyse those emotions and find the source of discomfort. Furthermore, the more you know about, the less intense the emotion will be.
Help others
That feeling you get when you give something is a powerful thing and might help you feel better. It doesn’t have to be a material thing – you can give your time by volunteering at the charity centre, for example. Furthermore, you can help the others by teaching them skills and values. For instance, if you have children, teach them the importance of being economical. Show them that cheap girls clothing from consignment store can be as stylish as pieces from the shopping mall. They’ll learn about environment friendliness and realize that money isn’t everything. Not only will your kids learn the important lesson, but you’ll also feel fulfilled and become more content.
Appreciate the little things
Money can’t buy happiness, but a new coat might be just what you need when you feel blue. Treat yourself from time to time but be aware of the limits of the happiness you can buy. Try making a list of things that make you happy. It doesn’t matter if it’s drinking tea on a rainy day or driving around in the middle of the night – once you start thinking about those little things, you’ll learn to appreciate them. You can even try that 100 happy days challenge that’s been circling on your social networks – start taking conscious steps towards your happiness and you might finish the challenge long before the 100th day.
So, contentment comes from loving yourself and accepting the things that happen in your life. Once you take your life in your own hands, you can turn it into something beautiful and be content with it. In the end, happiness is a choice. And it’s the best choice you can ever make.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracey Clayton is a full time mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids, and offers helpful advice in hers parenting articles. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.”
Read More from Tracey: https://highstylife.com/women-
