Consider doing the following exercise:
On a piece of paper, begin the following sentence: "I would be happier if...."
Write down everything that comes to mind when completing this sentence.
Maybe you will write, "I had more money," "I were more attractive," "I were smarter," "I had more friends," or similar statements.
Now look at each of the things on your list. For each, ask yourself the following questions:
1) How could your situation be worse than it is?
2) What about this area can you be content about (even in a small way)?
3) Is keeping your feeling of discontent worth a small measure of your happiness? If not, cross it off your list and resolve to be content with what you have in that area.
If you have crossed off everything on your list, congratulations on your new contentment! Now you just need to remember to honor the decisions you made in this exercise.
If there is at least one item on your list after you finish crossing things off, close your eyes and imagine yourself having what you believe you lack.
How much more content do you think you would feel?
Now try imagining yourself unable to get what you think you lack. How much less content do you think you would be?
Your chances of ever being content — even if you obtain what you think is missing — are lower if you cannot find contentment with the present moment and the present situation. This is because it is easy to slip into a pattern of putting off contentment because you feel you need something more. This way of thinking will keep contentment just slightly out of reach for your whole life.
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