Are you busy always trying to achieve something in life which means you’ll be happy when you succeed?
Would you love for things to get easier so that you can feel more content?
This week a friend asked me ‘How do I allow contentment?’ It got me thinking.
First of all what does contentment even mean? Contentment means the state of being contented, satisfied; it’s an ease of mind.
In a world where everyone is searching for happiness there seems to be something missing.
In seeking happiness, for me, it feels like we’re looking for something external to make us happy. “I’ll be happy when…. I find the perfect job, when my noisy neighbours leave, when my partner shows me more love…..”
“I’ll be happy when I ………” You fill in the dots.
So, happiness seems to be slightly out of our reach. Happiness lies at some point in the future.
Perhaps the missing link is contentment. Being ok with where you are right now, allowing things to change and go with the flow or learning to let go of the ‘doing’ and rather learn how to start ‘being’.
After all, we are Human Beings not Human Doings!
In that space of ‘being’ it feels like contentment is possible right here, right now.
Contentment is softer than happiness and it’s a peaceful place to be.
It’s serene, it’s safe, it’s gentle and it’s full of kindness for yourself and others.
Here are 3 tips to start allowing contentment.
- Recognise the smaller moments of joy – What’s going on right now around you that makes you smile? Perhaps kids playing, the sound of music or the birds singing, blue skies, an unexpected message from a friend?
- Let go of the things that don’t matter – We hold on to so much that, in the big scheme of things, don’t really matter. Ask yourself, will I still be holding onto this tomorrow, next week, next year? Start to let go of things sooner.
- Get in flow – Nothing is the same moment to moment and everything is always changing. That’s not often comfortable. Allow yourself, for today, to go with the flow and see whatever shows up and what happens. You might just ease through the day more content.
Remember: Start small and build from there.
Much love,
Natasha x
