{"id":6844,"date":"2023-09-15T05:06:32","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T05:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifereader.co.uk\/articles\/?p=6844"},"modified":"2023-09-15T05:06:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T05:06:33","slug":"contentment-vs-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifereader.co.uk\/articles\/contentment-vs-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Contentment Vs. Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ann:<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span> Happiness is moments in life and contentment is long lasting and a state of being. Happiness is affected by intense external influences and contentment is being satisfied. We may not have everything we want or desire in life, but we can find meaning in simple things that bring contentment. For example, we all need to eat but sometimes we eat junk food with no lasting nutrition and our body can suffer.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The same with craving to be happy and searching in the wrong places for shallow quick fixes instead of being content with meaningful long-lasting enjoyment. People search for happiness in money and material possessions, and they still don’t feel fulfilled or content. Happiness can be related to experiences and laughter that come and go. Contentment is deeper and peaceful and satisfying.  <\/span><\/p>\n

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People look for euphoria and excitement in life more so than being calm and content.  The reason for this is because of instant gratification as opposed to waiting and being patient and willing to wait for rewards. People think they must be happy all the time, and when they experience lows, they don’t know how to handle it rather than lowering expectations and being content and evenly balanced. The world is obsessed with success and measuring happiness with wealth and success and winning. We live a fast-paced life and forget to enjoy our daily life and live in the moment.  Everything is speeding up in life and people can’t cope, and this causes mental illness and depression. Everyone is always rushing and speeding to get somewhere and all in the pursuit of making money to look after their family and fund their lifestyle to buy bigger homes and expensive holidays. So, what is the answer? Try to be content and relax and live within your means and be grateful every day for small things. Do you want a quick sugar fix or a slow GI intake which will sustain you and last longer.  <\/span><\/p>\n

So, take your time to be with your family, enjoy nature and be content with who you are and what you have in life, not what tomorrow will bring. Don’t compare yourself to others and what they have, and some people have bucket lists and are always striving to achieve and keep up with others, when self-achievement comes from inner peace and contentment. This is not being complacent which is being smug thinking you are better, and contentment is not apathy which is a lack of interest. Contentment is being interested in your surroundings and finding meaning in friendships and nature and animals and looking after yourself and your family. Learn a new skill, be creative, learn to cook or paint, read a book. Soak up the sun and try to be active and keep your mind and body moving. Everyone wants to be happy of course, but in a balanced way along with being content, we experience happiness and feel contentment. Contentment is the key to being happy in the moment and accepting things and allowing yourself to feel happiness.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Accepting others as how they are and not trying to change people to suit our needs and accepting their flaws and showing them appreciation. Contentment helps us to be satisfied with our wants and needs and desires and looking inward. Overly wanting and desiring can lead to a stressful life of wanting more all the time. Gratitude is being aware that nothing is permanent and lasts forever, and material things are not the key to long term happiness. Sustainability is the key to contentment and long term happiness, by accepting who we are and loving ourselves and coming up for air in our busy lives. Animals can help us be in the moment and enjoy the present rather than looking back or forward just looking around in the present without being judgmental and enjoying life and simple things. Chill out and stop buying stuff you don\u2019t need and ask yourself do I need this and let the urge subside and don\u2019t get caught up in the commercial world. Being kind to people with our words and actions is another way of being in the present and produces contentment.  <\/span><\/p>\n

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Love and Light,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ann <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ann: Happiness is moments in life and contentment is long lasting and a state of being. Happiness is affected by intense external influences and contentment is being satisfied. We may not have everything we want or desire in life, but we can find meaning in simple things that bring contentment. For example, we all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":6845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,24],"tags":[1262,1891,226,239,390,649,202,1739],"class_list":["post-6844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-change","category-self-help-improvement","tag-contentment","tag-contentment-vs-happiness","tag-happiness","tag-life","tag-life-lessons","tag-life-motivation","tag-motivation","tag-self-help-improvement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t