Contentment often comes from a combination of internal mindset and external actions. Here are 10 meaningful ways to be content in life and find joy at every stage of your journey.
Growing up, I was always at unrest with my life.
I wouldn’t say I was greedy or always in need of more, it just seemed like I couldn’t find peace within myself or around me.
I’ve been through phases of wanting to be courageous and chasing goals without break, as I am sure many of you have too.
But none of that could give me the power that has come from working on being content in life.
I often find people being wary of contentment.
They think that to be content, they might end up settling for what they have, and lose the inspiration to work toward their dream life.
But contentment has nothing to do with settling. It won’t weaken your resolve or make you any less determined.
If anything, it makes you bold and brave, adds color to the little things in your surroundings, and helps you realize how beautiful the world that you live in is.
To quote the philosopher Lao Tzu, “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
Without contentment, we are like the crashing waves in an ocean, always lost and off-kilter in our purpose.
But with contentment, we’re like the gentle flow of a cool stream, steadily moving to our destination while providing rest to anyone who crosses our path.
Enjoying the post so far? Pin it now for safekeeping.
In this post, you’ll discover 10 simple ways to be content in your life and gently tame your restless energies.
Read on to become your most content, grateful, and easy-going self.
10 Positive Ways To Be Content In Your Life
1. Stop Putting Conditions On Your Happiness
Are you familiar with these lines of thought?
- I’ll be happy when I’m earning X amount of money.
- When I have the perfect routine, then I’ll be happy.
- I’ll let myself be happy once I have a big social circle.
This is what you call conditional happiness, wherein you allow yourself to be happy only when you are doing certain things in life.
But the problem with this kind of mindset is that it narrows your scope of happiness.
The worst thing is that once you get what you want, you’ll find the next goal to latch onto, and once again your happiness will become bounded.
Peace, contentment, and happiness are not supposed to be conditional.
If they were, then there wouldn’t be people in this world who are happy and at ease with themselves at all times.
But we know people like this exist, and you should boldly aim to be one of those who allow themselves to be happy without any conditions and are content in every phase of life because of the same.
2. Simplify Your Life
You might not have control over some complicated aspects of your life, but you can bring a drastic change in yourself by simplifying things that can be controlled.
Start by reducing physical clutter to create a sense of order and tranquility.
Embrace minimalism, both in possessions and in commitments, so that there is more space for the things that bring you genuine joy and fulfillment.
This might mean focusing on quality over quantity, setting boundaries in your schedules, and prioritizing relationships and experiences over material possessions.
When you let go of the extraneous and concentrate on the essentials, you’ll find that true happiness and contentment are not elusive goals but attainable states of being.
By shedding the unnecessary burdens of materialism, over-commitment, and endless distractions, you can focus on what truly matters, which is a key aspect of finding contentment.
You might like: How To Live A Quiet Life – 5 Simple Practices
3. Trust The Process
Whenever I find myself getting dissatisfied and restless, it’s often because I am losing faith in myself and my journey.
Whether your dream vision includes having a happy family or starting your own company, you first need to trust the process.
Be patient with what you’re working toward (even if it’s something as small as creating a good morning routine.)
Understand that there will be highs and lows, but as long as you continue putting in the necessary work, there is nothing that could stop you from getting to your end goal.
Once you start believing in your efforts, you’ll find it easier to be content and happy, no matter what level you’re at in your life.
4. Foster Gratitude
So often, we get fixated on things we want and lose gratitude for the things we’ve been blessed with.
Today, you might believe there’s nothing more you want than a car, but once you actually buy one, it might make you happy only for a short time before you start craving something else that is brand new.
It’s good to wish for and work for more, but only when you actually value what you already have.
That’s why you need to foster a strong sense of gratitude so that you can shift your focus from what you lack to what you have.
Regularly reflect on the things you’re thankful for, no matter how small they may seem. Work for better things, but not at the cost of belittling the good that you have.
Gratitude will attract satisfaction and contentment into your life, making you cherish everything you have with you in the present.
Must read: 30 Wonderful Things To Love About Life
5. Enjoy What You Are Doing
I agree that you should be doing things that make you happy, but I see so many people not even taking joy in the work that they are actually passionate about.
This might be because as humans, we thrive on new things, and tend to get bored doing the same things over and over again.
I mean, I love to write, but there are days when I don’t feel inspired to type a word.
But if it’s a situation that happens too often, it will lead to an immense sense of displeasure in life.
You might think ‘Oh, well, nothing that can be done about this,’ but let’s not forget that the biggest problems often have simple and straightforward solutions.
You just need to be willing to try things differently and work for the contentment that can make life more beautiful for you.
Here are some of my personally tried and tested ways to enjoy whatever task you are doing:
- Romanticize your work (play music, light candles, read a few pages of a book in between).
- Take regular breaks to avoid burnout.
- Always remember why you started in the first place.
- Keep polishing and developing your skills, because there’s always more that can be learned.
- Don’t overprioritize your work. It’s okay to make self-care or your loved ones the top priority.
- Be open to new opportunities in your field.
It might seem more impactful to say ‘I never slept and didn’t rest until I got what I wanted.’
But it’s even sweeter if you get to say ‘It was hard at times, but I made myself pause and enjoy every step of the way.’
6. Be Generous
Being generous isn’t entirely a selfless act. Those who practice true generosity know how satisfying this trait can be to nurture.
When you are generous and kind without any hidden agenda, the world opens up to you.
There is nothing in the world that can be compared to the experience of making a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small the gesture.
Here are some tiny ways you can practice generosity:
- Smile and greet (it doesn’t take a lot)
- Hold the door (GOT fans, don’t cry)
- Listen actively
- Compliment others
- Share your knowledge
- Donate blood
- Send thoughtful texts
- Donate to charity
- Volunteer
- Be encouraging
Recommended post: 13 Tiny Ways To Be A Better Person From Today
7. Embrace Self-Compassion
It’s easy to self-sabotage your happiness and progress by looking down upon yourself. It’s also easy to judge your own growth and criticize your failures.
But just like loving someone truly requires courage and compassion, self-love does too. It’s an important aspect of contentment that people don’t take into account.
How can you hope to be fulfilled in life if you’re not kind to yourself?
There are billions of people in the world, but your life is entirely yours, and you are the only person you have to spend every second of your time with.
Imagine the things you could do if you were to become your own best friend.
Imagine how simple things would be if you could be encouraging in the face of your downfalls and hug yourself when things aren’t going your way.
It’ll be beautiful, life-changing, and extremely gratifying.
Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend.
Be forgiving of your imperfections, and embrace your flaws so that you can give strength to the parts of you that can be worked upon.
The further you venture on the path of self-compassion, the more contentment you’ll gain every step of the way.
8. Find Joy In Simple Pleasures
Your big achievements are cause for celebration and happiness, no doubt. I mean, who wouldn’t be over the moon after getting a big raise at work?
But what about the little moments in life that are often overlooked in the wait for big success?
Just because some moments happen on a regular basis, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t relive them each time and recognize their true beauty.
If anything, the fact that small pleasures are often free of cost and happen so frequently is all the more reason for you to be happier and more content.
Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astoniment, and bow their heads.
-Mary Oliver
Appreciate the beauty of nature, the taste of a good meal, and the warmth of a hug from a loved one.
Step out for walks in nature, dance in your room when you find yourself getting stressed, and smile at your dog as you watch him sleeping without any worries in the world.
Get up early some mornings to catch the sunrise, make time for your self-care practices, and get in touch with your old hobbies.
To be content means to appreciate every day of life as a brand new moment, which can only come from the beautiful habit of finding joy in simple pleasures.
Highly recommended: 10 Different Ways To Enjoy Life To The Fullest
9. Foster Positive Relationships
You can’t undermine the value of healthy relationships when it comes to being truly content.
They offer a space for joy, laughter, and shared experiences that become a source of happiness in your memory box.
If you have people who you can sit with a cup of tea and just talk or have a good time with, then you are blessed and should do your best to hold on to them.
Express your care for them in a love language they understand, whether it’s through gifts, meaningful texts, or taking them out for a cup of coffee.
When we invest time and effort in nurturing positive bonds, we create a strong foundation of trust and understanding that can weather the storms of life.
I see people around me focusing on the quantity of their friendships rather than working on the quality.
One good friend is worth ten people who you don’t feel any real sense of connection with.
Surround yourself with supportive and positive people who lift you up and make you feel valued. And distance yourself from those who pull you down or make you doubt yourself.
10. Set And Achieve Meaningful Goals
I will be lying if I said that I am content all the times. There are days when I lose inspiration or find it hard to connect to the things that make me happy.
But one thing that really brings me back and makes me stick to my content spirit is the act of setting goals and achieving them.
When you cross a milestone, no matter how small or big it is, your sense of contentment is fostered.
Completing tasks, ticking things off your bucket list, and getting things done in time – All these moments feed your need to have purpose and intention in life.
Start by looking within, connecting with your values and passions to discover what truly ignites your spirit. Is it health, honing your skills, or trying new things?
Once you’ve identified your aspirations, frame them as SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.)
Prioritize the goals that resonate most with your soul and align with your long-term vision, then break them down into smaller, manageable steps, and create a well-thought-out action plan.
Keep your motivation high by regularly reminding yourself of the transformative power of your goals, sharing them with a supportive friend, and nurturing resilience in the face of challenges.
Celebrate each milestone as it brings you closer to your dreams, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance and support along the way.
Self-care is the fuel that will keep your inspiration flowing, so prioritize it to sustain your journey of growth, self-discovery, and finding contentment in life.
Don’t miss: 15 Mental Health Goals For A Happy And Peaceful Life
Contentment Is Key To Ultimate Peace And Happiness
In the pursuit of contentment, it’s important to remember that it’s not a one-size-fits-all journey.
What brings contentment can vary greatly from person to person, but the way to instill this blissful feeling into your being is more or less the same.
You’ll need to be patient and self-aware, but the rewards at the end will be immeasurable.
Embrace the ups and downs, and with time, you’ll find contentment in the beauty of the present moment and the promise of a more fulfilled tomorrow.
Read next: How To Stop Being Negative – 9 Gentle Ways
What are some simple things you do to ground yourself and become more fulfilled? Share in the comment box!
Leave a Reply