Contentment-Sexymoxiemama.comGood morning and happy “Wisdom Wednesday”. Each week I post quotes on various virtues. Last week’s virtue was empathy. This week’s virtue is the virtue of contentment.

What is contentment? For me, contentment is about being happy with who you are and what you have. For many years, this was not the case. I constantly tried to achieve bigger and better material things, relationships, and careers. I constantly chased after bigger and better goals. While bettering oneself is a virtue in itself, I was not happy, as I believe most people who are also trying to achieve more are not always.

Contentment is a sense of satisfaction with what one has. Many people look for ways to find happiness when, in fact, what they are searching for is contentment.

Those who achieve success do not necessarily discover contentment, are constantly determined to attain more, and are miserable with themselves. Those who are unfortunate or who may not have a highly successful career can find complete contentment. It is all based on perspective.

Many who have contentment practice prudence by realizing that life is more than wealth or riches. The real joy, often, comes not from receiving but from giving freely. Contentment is experienced when one balances his fortune with those who are less fortunate.

A contented person remains content in unpleasant situations such as poverty, grief or illness, as these are normal life events. A discontented person amplifies their own unhappiness by weighing their situation against that of those more fortunate.

The real course to contentment, then, is to discontinue comparing ourselves against preconceived ideals. We gradually learn to believe in ourselves and abilities by ceasing to judge ourselves and letting go of these ideals.

10 Wisdom Wednesday Quotes: Contentment

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”― Dale Carnegie

“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.”—Lao Tzu

“We need much less than we think we need.”― Maya Angelou

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”― Socrates

“We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without.”― Immanuel Kant

“When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.”—Dalai Lama

“There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.”—Chanakya

“We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.”—Bernard Williams

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”—Buddha

“There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.”—Swami Sivananda

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