My previous article introduced the concept of contentment and what it means. Next, we will dig deeper into finding that inner peace and contentment and some ways you can work to find it.
Benefits of Contentment
Characteristics of contentment. When we’re content we have no resentment or regrets. We can feel times of peace and joy. We are grateful and express our thankfulness to others. We’re able to look at life’s challenges as another part of life where we’ll find something new – perhaps a new learning, personal growth or opportunity. We are able to take chances, risk and make mistakes in life knowing that it’s OK and this is living.
Now that we are aware of the benefits and what the characteristics are how do we find this? It’s is a mindset and resiliency skill. There is a strong correlation to being present in the moment and mindfully intentional to contentment.
How to cultivate and build contentment
Practicing Gratitude - Journaling & Expressing to Others
Gratitude is the cornerstone of contentment. One way to practice is to have a regular practice like journaling. By having a regular practice of being thankful for big and small things daily you will find more things to be thankful for. Another way is to regularly express gratitude to others, share positive experiences with others. This helps us find meaning and improves relationships as well. The idea is that we shift our mindset from scarcity to seeing the rich and abundant life we have. It’s not the things we have it’s the relationships and experiences that are more meaningful. Click here to learn more about how to practice gratitude.
Find and Nurture Your tribe
Cultivating your tribe and community is important to contentment and well-being. Keeping your loved ones, family, friends close and deepening those relationships is key. Be sure to take time to build your support system so that when life throws a curve ball they are there as a support. Keeping the lines of communication open and engaging in regular conversations are building blocks to a healthy tribe.
Cultivate Meaningful Connections
On the topic of relationships, human connection is essential for our well-being. By taking the time and being intentional to nurture our relationships we can find contentment. Things to help grow this is having meaningful conversations, being fully present, and practicing active listening. Another way is to volunteer and give to those in need. Remembering we’re not alone and we are a part of this Earth and human kind builds our sense of belonging that’s a key factor to our well-being. Click here to learn more about cultivating connection with others.
Mindfulness Moments & Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools for cultivating contentment. By grounding ourselves in the present moment, can let go of worries about the past and anxieties about the future. We can find peace and calm in the moment. Mindfulness moments sprinkled into your day can keep you in the moment and lead to calm. Spend a few minutes outside using your 5 senses to ground yourself. Use your 5 senses to describe a simple object. For meditation moments you can start by setting aside a few minutes each day to sit quietly and observe your thoughts without judgment. Use a meditation app to support your practice. I use the Chopra App and Insight Timer. The more you practice mindfulness and meditation you will find peace and calm in those moments that will then lead to more peace and calm in your day to day life. Click here to learn more about meditation.
Simplify
Contentment can be found in living simply. Having more and doing more often leads to needing to take care of and get more and more. Take a look at your space – what do you need, what brings you joy, what do you use? Decluttering your space can be incredibly illuminating and provide new energy. For simplifying your life, review your calendar/schedule. What brings you energy, what takes it away? Work to remove those that steal your energy and are not fulfilling. Remember to have time set aside to just be, rest and reflect.
Practice Self-Compassion
Too often, we're our own harshest critics, constantly striving for perfection while we self-flagellate ourselves for our perceived shortcomings. Practicing self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would offer to a friend. When faced with difficulties or setbacks, acknowledge your feelings with gentleness and compassion. Remind yourself that you're doing the best you can with what you have at the moment to give. Work to embrace your imperfections as part of what makes you human and uniquely you. Review your expectations and remove the unrealistic ones. Click here for Self-Compassion tips.
Engage in What Brings Joy
It’s vital to make time for activities that nourish you and brings you joy. Whatever that might be. For me, being in nature, especially water is my happy place. Maybe it’s creating art, writing, engaging in physical activity, socializing, whatever it is. Be sure to prioritize activities that uplift your spirits and rejuvenate your positive energy. Finding moments of joy daily is another essential key for cultivating contentment and maintaining a positive outlook. It can be something simple as seeing a beautiful flower, eating some yummy food, or having a nice beverage. Look for joy and cultivate it as you can.
Embrace Impermanence
Lastly, remember that everything in life is temporary, including both joys and sorrows. Life is a rollercoaster. Embracing impermanence allows us to appreciate the present moment fully, knowing that it won't last forever. There will be good and great times and there will be hard and awful times. Knowing this and preparing ourselves for this is resilience. Move from clinging to fleeting good experiences or trying to control the uncontrollable to living in the present moment with letting go and savoring each moment as it arises.
Contentment is not a destination but a journey – we get to practice daily and regularly. By incorporating these practical strategies into our daily lives, we can cultivate a deep sense of contentment that can sustain us through life's ups and downs. Take a moment to breathe, appreciate the beauty around you, and find contentment in the here and now.
A few reflective questions
I hope you find contentment in your life and that these practices can help you find even more.
If it feels hard, keep working it bit by bit. You are worth finding contentment for yourself.
Here’s to finding contentment and being present in each moment.
Latest client wins – “Thank You Teresa, What we worked on in coaching and worked with my challenging employee”. “I feel more comfortable having challenging conversations.”, “Setting boundaries works, I am doing so much better and feel great.” I love supporting my clients in their wins and seeing their lives improve.
I have space for 2 clients in May. If you or someone you know would like support in your career, living your best life or finding contentment, please contact me. Let’s have a conversation to see how I can be of support.
Follow me on social media for insightful questions, tips, and motivational quotes.
Peace, and blessings,
Teresa – Finding contentment in small moments
Teresa Q. Bitner, M.Ed., PMP, PCC - Resiliency, Change and Loss Coach
Partnering with those who have been knocked down by life and want to build resiliency and move forward and live a bold life.
[email protected]
www.boldfulfilledlifecoach.com
Author of:
· Soul Love: How A Dog Taught Me to Breathe Again
· The First Days: Coping with Life after Loss (updated 2nd edition)
· Explorations into the Being and Doing of Coaching: A collection of voices, insights, and wisdom from Austin area coaches
Benefits of Contentment
- Less stress and higher well-being and satisfaction
- Stronger healthier relationships fostered by appreciation, ability to listen and navigate conflict.
- Better quality sleep
Characteristics of contentment. When we’re content we have no resentment or regrets. We can feel times of peace and joy. We are grateful and express our thankfulness to others. We’re able to look at life’s challenges as another part of life where we’ll find something new – perhaps a new learning, personal growth or opportunity. We are able to take chances, risk and make mistakes in life knowing that it’s OK and this is living.
Now that we are aware of the benefits and what the characteristics are how do we find this? It’s is a mindset and resiliency skill. There is a strong correlation to being present in the moment and mindfully intentional to contentment.
How to cultivate and build contentment
Practicing Gratitude - Journaling & Expressing to Others
Gratitude is the cornerstone of contentment. One way to practice is to have a regular practice like journaling. By having a regular practice of being thankful for big and small things daily you will find more things to be thankful for. Another way is to regularly express gratitude to others, share positive experiences with others. This helps us find meaning and improves relationships as well. The idea is that we shift our mindset from scarcity to seeing the rich and abundant life we have. It’s not the things we have it’s the relationships and experiences that are more meaningful. Click here to learn more about how to practice gratitude.
Find and Nurture Your tribe
Cultivating your tribe and community is important to contentment and well-being. Keeping your loved ones, family, friends close and deepening those relationships is key. Be sure to take time to build your support system so that when life throws a curve ball they are there as a support. Keeping the lines of communication open and engaging in regular conversations are building blocks to a healthy tribe.
Cultivate Meaningful Connections
On the topic of relationships, human connection is essential for our well-being. By taking the time and being intentional to nurture our relationships we can find contentment. Things to help grow this is having meaningful conversations, being fully present, and practicing active listening. Another way is to volunteer and give to those in need. Remembering we’re not alone and we are a part of this Earth and human kind builds our sense of belonging that’s a key factor to our well-being. Click here to learn more about cultivating connection with others.
Mindfulness Moments & Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools for cultivating contentment. By grounding ourselves in the present moment, can let go of worries about the past and anxieties about the future. We can find peace and calm in the moment. Mindfulness moments sprinkled into your day can keep you in the moment and lead to calm. Spend a few minutes outside using your 5 senses to ground yourself. Use your 5 senses to describe a simple object. For meditation moments you can start by setting aside a few minutes each day to sit quietly and observe your thoughts without judgment. Use a meditation app to support your practice. I use the Chopra App and Insight Timer. The more you practice mindfulness and meditation you will find peace and calm in those moments that will then lead to more peace and calm in your day to day life. Click here to learn more about meditation.
Simplify
Contentment can be found in living simply. Having more and doing more often leads to needing to take care of and get more and more. Take a look at your space – what do you need, what brings you joy, what do you use? Decluttering your space can be incredibly illuminating and provide new energy. For simplifying your life, review your calendar/schedule. What brings you energy, what takes it away? Work to remove those that steal your energy and are not fulfilling. Remember to have time set aside to just be, rest and reflect.
Practice Self-Compassion
Too often, we're our own harshest critics, constantly striving for perfection while we self-flagellate ourselves for our perceived shortcomings. Practicing self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would offer to a friend. When faced with difficulties or setbacks, acknowledge your feelings with gentleness and compassion. Remind yourself that you're doing the best you can with what you have at the moment to give. Work to embrace your imperfections as part of what makes you human and uniquely you. Review your expectations and remove the unrealistic ones. Click here for Self-Compassion tips.
Engage in What Brings Joy
It’s vital to make time for activities that nourish you and brings you joy. Whatever that might be. For me, being in nature, especially water is my happy place. Maybe it’s creating art, writing, engaging in physical activity, socializing, whatever it is. Be sure to prioritize activities that uplift your spirits and rejuvenate your positive energy. Finding moments of joy daily is another essential key for cultivating contentment and maintaining a positive outlook. It can be something simple as seeing a beautiful flower, eating some yummy food, or having a nice beverage. Look for joy and cultivate it as you can.
Embrace Impermanence
Lastly, remember that everything in life is temporary, including both joys and sorrows. Life is a rollercoaster. Embracing impermanence allows us to appreciate the present moment fully, knowing that it won't last forever. There will be good and great times and there will be hard and awful times. Knowing this and preparing ourselves for this is resilience. Move from clinging to fleeting good experiences or trying to control the uncontrollable to living in the present moment with letting go and savoring each moment as it arises.
Contentment is not a destination but a journey – we get to practice daily and regularly. By incorporating these practical strategies into our daily lives, we can cultivate a deep sense of contentment that can sustain us through life's ups and downs. Take a moment to breathe, appreciate the beauty around you, and find contentment in the here and now.
A few reflective questions
- Which of the above practices would I like to incorporate more into my life?
- Where can you find contentment right now?
- What might get in the way of your contentment?
- How might you mitigate that obstacle?
I hope you find contentment in your life and that these practices can help you find even more.
If it feels hard, keep working it bit by bit. You are worth finding contentment for yourself.
Here’s to finding contentment and being present in each moment.
Latest client wins – “Thank You Teresa, What we worked on in coaching and worked with my challenging employee”. “I feel more comfortable having challenging conversations.”, “Setting boundaries works, I am doing so much better and feel great.” I love supporting my clients in their wins and seeing their lives improve.
I have space for 2 clients in May. If you or someone you know would like support in your career, living your best life or finding contentment, please contact me. Let’s have a conversation to see how I can be of support.
Follow me on social media for insightful questions, tips, and motivational quotes.
Peace, and blessings,
Teresa – Finding contentment in small moments
Teresa Q. Bitner, M.Ed., PMP, PCC - Resiliency, Change and Loss Coach
Partnering with those who have been knocked down by life and want to build resiliency and move forward and live a bold life.
[email protected]
www.boldfulfilledlifecoach.com
Author of:
· Soul Love: How A Dog Taught Me to Breathe Again
· The First Days: Coping with Life after Loss (updated 2nd edition)
· Explorations into the Being and Doing of Coaching: A collection of voices, insights, and wisdom from Austin area coaches
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