Today we wanted to talk about how to practice being content. In today’s world, it is hard to be content. These are a few things that we like to talk and think about to practice being content.
It’s so easy to start comparing yourself to others and what you don’t have or what you wish you would have done. Instead of thinking this way, its important to take the time to think positively about what you have in your life, what you’re thankful for, and what you’ve accomplished. It’s these little changes in your thinking that can be thought provoking and life changing.
By practicing ways to be content, you will see the world through a different lens. Instead of thinking about what your lacking, you’ll start to see how abundant your life truly is. Instead of looking at your glass as have empty, you’ll start looking at it as half full.
Here is our list of tips to practice being content:
- Take a moment to be grateful for something.What in your life is amazing? Even if there are some things that seem to be bad, there must be at least one good thing. It might simply be that you have found beauty is something within sight, that you’re alive, that you have a roof over your head or that your kids are healthy. Find something that you are grateful for and give thanks to that.
- Catch yourself thinking, “This sucks.” It’s surprising how often people think this single thought. It could be something like “this sucks that I have to do this today” or “it sucks that I have to go to a doctor appointment.” It could just be that you’re thinking that you are pretty down on your luck. When this happens, you need to catch yourself, pause your thinking, and reverse your thinking. Find a way to be thankful for the situation instead of thinking negatively towards it. What’s on my agenda today might not be the most fun but I’m just thankful to have a good job. Although I’m not excited about this doctor’s appointment, I’m thankful to have health insurance that affords me to receive this care.
- Find the little things that bring you happiness. Think about what you need to be happy. Think about the simple things that bring you happiness like taking a walk, going for a drive, calling an old friend, spending time with your loved ones, working in your garden, eating a healthy snack, or drinking a cup of tea. Find the simple things that bring you happiness and focus on these things instead of the things you don’t have.
- Don’t compare yourself or your happiness to that of others. When you find yourself comparing yourself and what someone else has that you don’t, stop yourself. Instead, remind yourself how you are on a completely different journey or place in life than that other person. Also remind yourself how you may not know everything about what is going on for that person. It may be that on the surface everything seems great but it really isn’t. Instead be thankful for what you have and what you have accomplished. Take heart in where you have been, where you are at, and where you are heading.
- Be content with staying home and not spending money. Find things you enjoy to do at home or together as a family that don’t cost a penny. This could be working in your garden, playing outside with kids, baking cookies or something yummy, reading a book, taking a bath or watching a movie. Also don’t spend money if you don’t need to, practice being mindful with your spending. Use this motto to use it up, wear it out, fix it, or make it yourself if practicing frugality.
While practicing these things you won’t become content overnight. In fact we feel that being content is a work in progress. We feel that we have to continually work on being content with where we are at and what we have and just making the best of it.
‘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
We’d love to hear what you think about this post. How do you practice being content? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for visiting Sunup to Sundown! We’ll be back soon with another recipe or update regarding our garden or our journey to become more self-reliant.
