I was talking to a friend of mine who by the world’s standard is doing very well - he has had a great education, he has a good (some may say great) job, owns the title to lots of material possessions, he’s young, he’s cute - and yet, my friend is not happy.
We talked about what the possible reasons for the lack of contentment in his life may be, but didn’t get anywhere. Then much later, this little bit of wisdom came to me, which I sent him via sms (many msgs!), which I record now here:
I think a trap lots of us fall into is expecting life to be easy.
But life is not easy. Not for anyone.
I think for true contentment:
(01) We should count our blessings. This can also be done by seeing less fortunate around us.
(02) Accept it as a personal challenge to play as well as possible with the cards we have been dealt.
So think: How can I be more content right this minute? Do that, and voila, a content heart is born.
Got the above “wisdom” late last night. Know it’s not perfect but will brush up as & when I find more pieces that fit. The understanding I have that “Life is not easy”, was picked up from M. Scott Peck’s ‘The Road Less Traveled’, first line “Life is Difficult” and George Bernard Shaw, “Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage, it can be delightful”.
Tags: Blessings, Challenge, Contentment, Difficult, Easy, George-Bernard-Shaw, Happiness, Life, M.-Scott-Peck
; ?>/feed-icon-24x24.png){kind=icon}
September 27th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I know what you mean, but isn’t it easier said than done - the thing that you are suggesting to attain contentment? It’s like, John Powell says “pain has a way of magnetising all one’s attention to oneself” - In the same vein, my discontentment may not necessarily go away, just because i look at somebody who is less fortunate, purely because the less fortunate one, maybe that way, because he/she is less blessed than I am to achieve what i have. Just a thought….: )
September 27th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Making an honest effort itself is a cure to all unhappiness. So life isn’t meant to be easy, I guess.
I keep reminding myself that the greatest joy is in making an effort.
September 28th, 2007 at 10:19 am
As I said, what I was suggesting is not perfect - I myself believe that God is key - but since my friend was of another faith, I did not mention that. In any case, was suggesting not one but a combination of all the points, think it’s a good place to start at least, what say?
@ Ranjan: “Making an honest effort itself is a cure to all unhappiness.”
Thanks for dropping in great finance Lord, trust you’ve been great!
Well said
September 28th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Totally Mel. I guess the trick is in feeling good about who one is. The days I feel good about who I am, is when i find myself the most content….and that feeling good about self does not come from anything specific. It could be a conversation with a friend, a long drive with one’s fav music…etc…have a lovely weekend…!!!
September 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
“Life does not accommodate you, it shatters you. It is meant to, and it couldn’t do it better. Every seed destroys its container or else there would be no fruition.”
These are the words of an American writer Florida Scott-Maxwell.
You can’t have a fully grown tree, if seed is not allowed to break its container.One should always remember that life is a great leveler.One should just keep moving without a break.
“Aaj Gham hain to kal khushi jaroor aayegi.” So just keep moving and Be happy.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:36 am
I appreciate your concern and wisdom for ur frnd, and it is great to have friends talkin to u this way!
Smile is very powerful, and we shud always count how many ppl smile happily on seeing us, how many look forward to meeting us… This is what makes life worth living, no wonder how many pains we need to go thru to make it that way. A bad career can always b traded for a great personal life. So, the onus has to b on spreading love and happiness among others!
October 15th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
@ Parimal: “So just keep moving and Be happy” Amen to that!
@ Naresh: “So, the onus has to b on spreading love and happiness among others!” Will take your advice there my friend!