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“Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.” —Socrates
There were many reasons we chose to become minimalist and simplify our lives. We were frustrated with clutter. We discovered the time that was wasted managing our possessions. We realized joy was not found in our possessions. And we determined that we value other things far more than physical belongings. This initial process of simplifying our home required energy, effort, and encouragement.
But the process of remaining minimalist and living this counter-cultural lifestyle against all odds requires something completely different. It requires knowing how to be content.
Contentment is the lifeblood of minimalism. And without it, the journey towards minimalism is short-lived. Discontent will always rear its ugly head and become a great obstacle to fully thriving in a simple and happy life.
Not only does contentment provide the opportunity for minimalism, it also reduces your stress level, improves your outlook, relaxes your body, and makes your life enjoyable. There is an unmistakable freedom that accompanies contentment: a freedom to be who you are, enjoy who you are, and live the life you were destined to live.
Yet in our consumeristic-culture where discontent is promoted and material gratification is encouraged, learning to be content can be very difficult. It is certainly a personal journey that we all must travel and nobody’s journey will look the same.
Finding Contentment
Although there is no one-size-fits-all program to fully-attain contentment, you can still learn how to be content by being intentional. Here are six tips you can apply today to find more contentment in
1. Practice gratitude. It is impossible to develop contentment without gratitude—they are inseparable. And a grateful person is one who has learned to focus on the good things in their life, not the things they lack. The simple discipline of beginning the exercise will undoubtedly shift your focus back to the many good things you already have.
2. Take control of your attitude. A person who lacks contentment in their life will often engage in “when and then thinking” – “when I get _______, then I will be happy.” Instead, take control of your attitude. Remember, your happiness is not reliant on the acquisition of any possession. Your happiness is based solely on your decision to be happy—this may be one of the most important life lessons you can ever learn.
3. Break the buying habit. For many of us, it has been ingrained into our lives that the proper way to diffuse discontent is to purchase the outward item that is seemingly causing the discontentment. Almost no energy is spent determining the true root of the discontent. Are you dissatisfied with your wardrobe? Go buy new clothes. Not content with your vehicle? Go buy a new one. We have gotten into the habit of satisfying our discontent by simply spending more money.
We must break that habit. Material possessions will never fully satisfy the desires of your heart (that’s why discontent always returns). The next time you recognize discontentment surfacing in your life, refuse to give into that bad habit. Instead, commit to better understand yourself and why the lack of that item is causing discontent. Only after you intentionally break this thinking will true contentment begin to surface.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others. Comparing your life with someone else’s will always lead to discontentment. There will always be people who “appear” to be better off than you and seemingly living the perfect life. But be advised, we always compare the worst of what we know about ourselves to the best assumptions we make about others. Their life is never as perfect as your mind makes it out to be. You are unique. You are special. Your life is different. And it’s always better that way. Prioritize learning how to stop comparing yourself to others.
5. Help others. When you begin helping others, sharing your talents, time and money, you will find yourself learning to be content. The practice will give you a finer appreciation for what you own, who you are, and what you have to offer.
6. Be content with what you have, never with what you are. Never stop learning, growing, or discovering. Take pride in your personhood and the progress that you have made, but never become so content that you cannot find room for improvement. Contentment is not the same as complacency. As soon as you stop growing, you start dying.
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FAQ About How to Be Content
What is the definition of contentment?
Contentment is finding joy in what we already have in our lives, feeling or showing satisfaction with our possessions, status, or situation. It’s being happy without trying to find fulfillment in acquiring more material possessions.
What are the benefits of contentment?
Contentment allows us to stop comparing ourselves to others and it allows us to break the cycle of wanting more. It lets us be grateful and happy for all that we have. This approach to life is scientifically proven to reduce your stress level, improve your outlook, relax your body, and make life more enjoyable.
What is the difference between contentment and complacency?
The difference can seem minor but there’s actually a world of difference. Contentment is to be happy with what you have and find satisfaction in your present circumstances. Complacency is being unsatisfied with how your life is in the moment but still being unwilling to make changes to improve your situation.
Is contentment a choice?
Absolutely, although it’s not as easy as it sounds. Learning how to be content comes from a combination of intentional mindset shifts, habit changes, and being aware of our thoughts and actions.
Greg says
Erich Fromm, author of “To Have or To Be?” asks, “If I am what I have and what I have is lost, who then am I?”
To exist in the “having” mode is never the path to contentment (regardless of what our culture might suggest!) It is, rather, in the “being” mode where we should seek to live our lives, and adopting a minimalist mindset is certainly a good example of this! :-)
lynne says
So needed this today…Thanks
Karen Taylor says
I believe I have been enlightened by the minimalist way of living and thinking and am grateful for your many insightful posts and guest bloggers input. I am not particularly concerned I will relapse into “conspicuous consumption” BUT it is disheartening seeing people I know and love suffer over never having enough and wanting more and more. I guess I am looking for ways to help enlighten others – this “minimalist mentality” feels SO GOOD—I want others to share in the contentment.
Pavel says
I like how you written that is great post. When you enjoy your life without consumer hysteria you feel more fulfilled.
Thank you, Josh.
Adam H says
Thank you, Josh, for your support and encouragement in my journey
“Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
Lao Tzu
Julie N says
I am so glad you posted this truth. Without the foundation of contentment, we can’t be content even as a minimalist. I am reminded of a greater truth in 1 Timothy 6:6.
Daryl says
I have often held that wisdom lies in contentment, and there is no contentment in acquisition of “stuff”, it just always begs for more. I am not saying per se that everyone should become minimalists, but it certainly is difficult for a rich man (one with many possessions) to be truly content, and in such a case it is better to get rid of it all, and discover that one can live with the barest minimum (isn’t that a good definition of minimalism?)
I particularly promote the view that we live the way we do because of what were “sold” on. This means that we really do not decide for ourselves what lifestyle, philosophy or goals we want to buy for ourselves (much less what products or services we use). There is a great conspiracy to market a very limited perspective to us. Freedom means leaving this limited scope behind, becoming purpose driven and taking control of our destiny.
For some this may mean traditional success, but for others it would mean a new and idiosyncratic life design. How much richer would this world be if we each followed our own vision, and how much more content would we be if we no longer measured ourselves by the world’s standard and tried to keep up with the Jones’s? When we are fulfilled in ourselves, anything we do or have will add to that, and conversely – if we are not, all will add to our frustration and discontent.
Fantastic article. Thank you.
Called to Foster Momma says
I’m a minimalist by nature. I like everything streemlined and matching. Clutter overwhelms me. We are definatly a family with less (except by quanity of children, haha!) and do prefer the minimalist life.
Ive enjoyed all if your posts but taking particularly good advise away from this one. I often find myself playing the comparison game. Ill be making my “grateful list” today. What a wonderful reminder of the many areas of our lives we are blessed. Another is quality not quantity. I tend to buy what is on sale and not what we truely want/need. Thinking if I can impliment that it will make a big difference.
Thank you for the guidance and encouragment to improve!
John Ashton says
Hi Joshua
I hope you dont mind that I haver used your image?
http://beyondmaterialism-john.blogspot.com/2010/10/who-wants-to-be-zeroaire-i-do.html
Warmest wishes
John
teresa bogener says
I can not quote chapter and verse but there is a Blibical scripture that says, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content.
Rocko says
Philippians 4:12