‘Contentment’,
something that is found, lost, discussed, pondered and defined by
many. Scholars, philosophers, intellectuals, God-men, all have tried
to know this unknown state of human mind. It’s difficult to define,
as while walking on the road to decipher contentment several other
questions cross our path, like, meaning of life, goals of life, aim
of existence etc. These questions are not only complex because they
make you think and rethink your thoughts, actions and reactions but
also because there are no right answers. Every answer has its own
questions.
My understanding about
contentment is same as its dictionary definition, that is, a state of
happiness and satisfaction, however, I think that many of us
including me misunderstand contentment as the state of being happy
with less. Often we use ‘contentment’ to describe being happy
with the present state of life, living in less or living with
something which is not considered success in social terms. Have you
ever heard someone saying that a rich man is content? He may be, just
because he has lot of money and wants to earn more, does not make him
any less content. Or does it? Why only simple living does leads to
contentment?
When I look around, the
definition that society (Indian society in which I grew) gives to me
of ‘contentment’ is very different. I don’t know what it has
to do with satisfaction or happiness but yes, absence of ambition to
progress or not trying for lavishness is contentment by social
standards. That’s what I have perceived from observing social
interactions about contentment.
Lately, I have
experienced a new sense of contentment, perhaps a new sub-
definition. Contentment may be being happy with your present state of
life but for sure it should not be misinterpreted as the passive
state of mind. If I have ambitions to grow in my career, or to earn
more money, buy a condo or a Ferrari, wear branded stuff and dine in
Michelin’s, then to be content, all I have to do is to put efforts
to make my dreams come true. If I am satisfied with my efforts then I
am as content as a sage. You may feel this as an exaggeration, but,
trust me it’s not. Different paths don’t mean difference in the
feeling of contentment. A 10 mile run for a marathon runner or 10
steps for an amputee, is progress and contentment. Ambitions and
contentment can go hand in hand. Anyone can be happy and unsatisfied
at the same time or sad and satisfied. For a person like me, if I
don’t have something to look forward too, I am not content. I love
the struggle and somehow make myself always available for one. I am
happy when I am striving, that makes me feel living. I am only
content when I am challenging myself or else I feel drained.
When happiness joins
satisfaction, it becomes contentment, but again, this satisfaction
may not necessarily define what you already have. A day well spent
according to your personal standards can give you a content sleep.
Happiness should not be our end goal, happiness should be the
journey. And contentment should be related to happiness and not to
satisfaction. You don’t have to define your contentment or try to
be content. It will come to you. You don't have to sit on the river
side in utmost silence or go to serene mountains to feel the cool
breeze touch your face, to find meaning in life or feel content. Your
piece of contentment can be kept in the corner of a disco as you love
to dance. Don't go by any stereotype law of contentment, find yours.
After so many years, today, while writing this article, I have
understood the meaning of journey and destination and the real
meaning of,
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते
मा
फलेषु
कदाचन।
मा
कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा
ते
सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
(You can control the efforts but not the
results, but if you will start defining your efforts with results,
you will never enjoy the journey of efforts.)
It is all about efforts. Your honesty
towards your efforts brings contentment and nothing else can. In my
words, I want to say,
“If results make you rethink about your efforts, perhaps the results are right.”
