With the recent post of Krisjasper about contentment, I keep on thinking why is it that we still feel discontented, even when we have the best of everything? We are not completely happy even if we have a nice place, a car, great salary and lifestyle, good family, own business and all the rest of it- and we are not certainly not contented when we do not have all these things.
If we don't have them, we can think, "Well, if I had the best, then I'd be content". But we would'nt be. We tend to think that we suffer because we do not have what we need. But there are many rich people who suffer more than poor people. The fact is, as is often said, that the more we have the bigger desires, the more frustrated we are. Hence, the more we are lonely. We should understand that we suffer not because we do not have enough, but because we do not think that we have enough.
We are discontented not only with what we have, but also with the condition in which we are. We think that our condition is no good, that there should be an ideal condition somewhere, and that we can be happy only when that ideal condition is realized. But even when it happens and we feel happy, we are driven again by the next idea, feel unhappy, and chase after that idea. Because of this we see so many people struggling to attain their aim in vain. Eventually, here we go again- get upset, begrudge others or become depressed. I know this well because I am one of those people.
To be discontented with our present condition and chase after what we think is an ideal condition does not solve the problem, because the problem is not the condition but ourselves- we do not have contentment. We will never be happy unless we change ourselves. Any condition is just as it is. It is neither good nor bad. An ideal condition or a desperate condition exist only in our brain.
My friend Sheryl once told me that if you feel discontented, compare yourself to those less fortunate ones and you will be relieved. Maybe she's right. Maybe let us be contented with whatever we have and whatever we are in.
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If we don't have them, we can think, "Well, if I had the best, then I'd be content". But we would'nt be. We tend to think that we suffer because we do not have what we need. But there are many rich people who suffer more than poor people. The fact is, as is often said, that the more we have the bigger desires, the more frustrated we are. Hence, the more we are lonely. We should understand that we suffer not because we do not have enough, but because we do not think that we have enough.
We are discontented not only with what we have, but also with the condition in which we are. We think that our condition is no good, that there should be an ideal condition somewhere, and that we can be happy only when that ideal condition is realized. But even when it happens and we feel happy, we are driven again by the next idea, feel unhappy, and chase after that idea. Because of this we see so many people struggling to attain their aim in vain. Eventually, here we go again- get upset, begrudge others or become depressed. I know this well because I am one of those people.
To be discontented with our present condition and chase after what we think is an ideal condition does not solve the problem, because the problem is not the condition but ourselves- we do not have contentment. We will never be happy unless we change ourselves. Any condition is just as it is. It is neither good nor bad. An ideal condition or a desperate condition exist only in our brain.
My friend Sheryl once told me that if you feel discontented, compare yourself to those less fortunate ones and you will be relieved. Maybe she's right. Maybe let us be contented with whatever we have and whatever we are in.
