BEING CONTENT WITH WHO WE ARE
"Stay in the center and notice each moment with calm serenity." - Catharine Larsen.
Image Source: Kalen Emsley (Unsplash)
You may recall from last year that I wrote about Ahimsa (non-harming), a Yama. The Yamas govern our relationship with others. Deborah Adele, in her book The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice (On-Word Bound Books, 2009), discusses Santosha, which is one of the Niyamas - governing how we relate to ourselves.
The Sanskrit translation of Santosha is contentment. Ms. Adele shared the Chinese proverb in this book chapter, "People in the West are always getting ready to live." (p. 120). She tells us that we can't wait to get big, go to school, start a career, go on vacation, raise a family, and then retire. As a Western society, we only pause momentarily to savor each benchmark attained on our journey through this lifetime, and then it is on to, or waiting for the next thing. The feeling of never having enough overshadows everything right in front of us.
We always long for something, be it the updated version of a smartphone or car, our neighbor's bigger home, boat, or whatever - you get the picture. Comparing our lives with others or the obsession with attaining the "latest and greatest" leads to discontent. The quest for always wanting more is an exercise in futility. Instead, as Catharine Larsen eloquently wrote, we should stay centered in each moment. Let's explore how we can practice being content with who we are and what we have.
Happier Human offers the following suggestions on being content with what you have in life. Please visit their website for a more extensive list.
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1. Cultivate gratitude - When annoyed at mundane activities, take a deep breath, and find the positive in each situation. What can you find good about and be thankful for in these moments? Create a gratitude journal to reflect and remind you about all you are grateful for.
2. Keep a positive mindset - Focus on healthy activities such as volunteering, mentoring, or sharing something you are passionate about with others. Use each opportunity to forge a purposeful life.
3. Avoid comparing yourself to others - Often, we fall into the trap of wanting the life or material possessions of another. However, if granted that wish, we might find that appearances can be deceiving. The adage, "The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence," resonates here. Early in my fire service career, I became disenchanted and considered moving to another department. A friend said while a new employer might seem reasonable, what you may find is that it is the "Same circus with different clowns." The fire service spin on the greener pasture theory.
Being content with who you are and what you have is more than being happy. Happier Human says being content "lasts longer with deeper feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction." Until next time -
Namaste,
Tim
References
Adele, D. (2009). The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice. Minnesota: On-Word Bound Books.
9 Ways to Be Content with What You Have in Life (May 20, 2022). Retrieved from https://www.happierhuman.com/be-content/ on 6/20/2023.