Contentment

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits (Psalm 103:2 NKJV)

Do you see the glass as half full or half empty.  A contented person knows that the glass is half full, of course.  Contentment is not the same as happiness.  Happiness depends on circumstances, goals achieved, gifts given and things going our way.  Contentment takes the more common path, focusing on what you already have instead of trying to get what you want.

Contentment is a matter of attitude.  Contended attitudes come from appreciating the small, commonplace things of life, things that you may often take for granted.  You may or may not have happy circumstances, but you have the choice to be constantly contented or constantly dissatisfied with your life.

Cultivate contentment by living in the present.  Enjoy the everyday gifts with a child’s sense of wonder.  Savor the scents and smells and sounds and textures of your life.  Breathe in the scent of a blessed life.  Listen to the sigh of the wind, the chatter of morning birdsongs.  In other words as they say “stop and smell the coffee” or the cappuccino or whatever you enjoy.  Find contentment in the small things of every day.  Make time for leisured contentment.  Go for a walk or drive or bicycle.  Cultivate your relationships.  Celebrate beauty and goodness wherever you find it.  Cultivating a contented attitude of gratitude and appreciation can help you cope with difficult situations and develop the ability to see silver linings in dark clouds and rainbows in rain.  Choose contentment and reap its gentle rewards.