Contentment is the real key to the feeling all of us yearn for: true joy. Many times, we make the mistake of searching for happiness instead of allowing ourselves to be content. Happiness is an endless pursuit, a chase that drains us and inevitably causes us to lose sight of what we truly desired in the first place, all for a temporary high. In contrast, contentment grounds us. By accepting and appreciating what we have, contentment offers a steady, lasting feeling of satisfaction and peace; the ability to find joy in our simple day-to-day lives is how we become free.

I used to be a very pessimistic person, always looking at the negative side of things. I would continuously be frustrated by my expectations not being met because I couldn’t accept what was; I always expected and wanted more. When I stopped having expectations and began embracing what already was, it felt like a 1000-pound brick lifted off my shoulders.

There is so much wrong in the world we live in; it can be so difficult to not focus on the constant negativity, but what I’ve realized is life gets so much better when you learn to appreciate what you have and see the good in all the little things. 

The first step in doing this is cultivating gratitude for all the things we take for granted every single day. Every morning, I try to take time to sit and think about what I’m grateful for – not big things, but things I don’t even think about that help to make life so good. 

When you begin to see things for what they are, and not just accept what you have but come to love it, you stop comparing it with what you want or wish you had. Look for things to be happy about. Smile every chance you get, and remember that life isn’t all about you. Life feels good when you look at it from a selfless point of view. Be the person that genuinely brightens other people’s day; when you do that, it brings a sense of unmatched inner joy. 

If you’re looking to start enjoying your life, stop chasing happiness from external sources and find contentment from within.