Why contentment is the key to happiness

Hi Everyone, before I share this months article ‘Why contentment is the key to happiness’ I just wanted to let you all know that I will be running another ‘How to Reclaim Your Power (Peacefully)’ weekend retreat. It was very popular last year in Leura so I’m offering the same retreat in Queensland (Springbrook – Gold Coast Hinterland) in April 🙂   If you or anyone you know would like to reclaim your power peacefully – here is the link. Bookings are required.

http://brahmakumaris.org.au/events/events-in-qld/eventdetail/24085/a-date-for-your-diary

So, now for this month’s article…

Based on my line of work and spiritual lifestyle, I frequently witness people struggle in their search for happiness and attestant to their continued frustration, anger and insecurity when they realise that their happiness just doesn’t last! Running in circles searching for some unknown object that’s going to keep them happy without really knowing what they want – “I just want to be happy” becomes their battlecry – not yet recognising that they are standing in their own way. Meanwhile, the goal of happy-ever-after slips further out of their reach. So would it be helpful to understand why contentment is the key to happiness?… Since most of us are on a lifelong quest for this elusive happiness, I believe it is. So here’s a quick overview on the difference between contentment and happiness – to help us stop chasing our own tails, to get out of our own way and get on with enjoying life 🙂

Firstly, on happiness… Our humanness relies heavily on a continual incoming stream of external stimuli to keep us entertained (happy) – there’s our first problem. Yet our resistance to change easily leads to boredom and complacency – convincing ourselves that external distractions are necessary for our happiness – and there’s our second problem. You see, change is the only constant in life which is why permanent happiness is impossible if it’s externally driven (what brings us happiness one minute can quickly become the bane of our existence). Happiness is subjective, dependent on the stimuli presented to us and in whatever mood it finds us. Still, happiness is a much sought after commodity – sold to us in pretty ‘packages’ all around the globe – to detract us from truth and keep us in debt to a system that chains us to that proverbial rat-wheel.

Now on contentment…  True contentment relies solely on being filled full from the inside. When we are internally full we are satisfied (like how you feel after a wonderfully nourishing meal) and it’s this inner satisfaction that keeps us happy – regardless of what situation is playing out in front of our eyes. Yet people fight it. Why? Because fear keeps them in their comfort zone. We are taught to gauge our happiness with what we have (not who we are inside) so we convince ourselves it’s not possible. Yes, inner contentment takes effort and keeps us accountable for our own story but it also empowers us to live outside the box of conditioning and programming which is a rather frightening concept for most – finding it easier to blame and make excuses… Inner contentment keeps us happy for no particular reason, it keeps us full and off the rat-wheel but with so much discordance in the world, it’s rare to find a truly contented Soul. It’s so uncommon to find someone so internally full that they’re commonly seen as weird.

Finding happiness in life seems like a road we’ve all walked, a road with many twists and turns but no ending. If I am happy today why do things need to change? Because that’s the beauty of life. Life is change and change is life. We cannot harness it. We cannot control it. But we can learn to roll with it – maybe even enjoy it. So take that external pressure of yourself and turn inward for all your support and life will (seemingly miraculously) lighten up, as inner peace and contentment become your companions almost automatically 🙂

Question:  Am I content?

Consideration:  Do I stay happy regardless of what is going on around me or does my happiness fluctuate?

Action:   For the month of March monitor your own happiness to check whether your happiness is externally or internally focused, to help you understand where you may need to make some gentle changes. Strengthening our foundation of contentment helps reinforce our own inner power.

Have a happy, contented month 🙂

Lots

of love,  Annemarie 🙂