I’ve been thinking about this quote and other similar ones a lot over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been really struggling with my mental health on and off – feeling low and also anxious. I realise that I need to find happiness (or perhaps contentment is a better word) within myself and not expect or hope for others to make me feel that way. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes and we can’t expect to be happy all of the time but contentment would bring peace.
When I was a child I had a little plaque with a quote by Mother Theresa on my wall. It said “If you don’t enjoy what you have how could you be happier with more?” For a long time I lived by that and I made the most of everything I had and didn’t feel the need for anything else. Something happened though and I started hoping and dreaming for a more fulfilling life – was that wrong? I don’t know. I guess I became dissatisfied with the way things were.
I’m still mulling this over I guess. I’m not sure what the right balance is. I don’t think it’s wrong to want more necessarily but I suppose I have to look to myself (or to God) for that and not to other people? What are your thoughts on happiness? How do you find happiness and contentment? Should we have any expectations around happiness coming from other people?
I’m always reading something or other. Books, social media feeds, study notes, blogs and more. Recently I’ve become even more aware of how much wisdom I come across in what I read so I decided to share some of it with you. I’m honestly not sure how consistent I will manage to be with this or how long I’ll keep it up but I’m going to try. It’s all part of the growing I need to do.
Just Being Me 
I am a firm believer that happiness comes from inside yourself. I feel that others can make you unhappy, but they can’t make you happy
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Hmm that’s another aspect to think about. Others can make you unhappy…
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Exactly. Sometimes getting rid of someone is what leads you to happy
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I believe that happiness is an over rated feeling………it’s important but not as important as contentment and this can be achieved when you constantly remind yourself of all the blessings you have in your life. May your day bring you a smile!
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There’s a lot to be said for reminding yourself of blessings. I keep a gratitude journal and write at least three things in it every day. It really helps with my mental health. 🙂
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that is awesome! starting out a day with positive thoughts is always a great way to begin a day.
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Don’t look at me. Apparently, I look in all the wrong places.
I will say that I don’t think introspection, alone, will do it. I mean, if you’re standing in a pot of boiling water, no amount of aphorisms will save your skin.
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That’s true too! Happiness is such a complicated thing. 😝
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Like you, I believe that contentment is the winner. Contentment with myself means that I accept myself with all of my faults and flaws with belief that I am still a wonderful human being. I make choices at times that make me unhappy with myself, but I am content to accept it as a growth. I appreciate the things that make me happy even more by doing that – like a sudden rainbow or a baby laughing, etc.
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I like your perspective on it. 🙂
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