You can proactively work to create and treasure little moments of contentment every day. Small moments in which you are able to indulge in feelings of satisfaction and happiness are to be cherished. These little joys throughout your day can become more prominent in your life as you begin to notice and embrace them. Soon, you’ll notice these times become more and more frequent.
Look for the Good
It may seem obvious that you should look for the good things in life. However, this small change in daily habits can be one of the most difficult to implement. The truth is, though, that beautiful things lie in the ordinary all around you. You simply have to take time to look. This can be literally, in which you look around you for something to appreciate. Perhaps it might be the smile of a small child or the presence of your best friend. It can also be figurative, like basking in the gratitude of your blessings or appreciating your special skills.
Accept Yourself
While it’s good to always be open to growth and learning, it’s also important to learn self-acceptance. This includes minimizing comparison, avoiding unnecessarily harsh judgment, and appreciating your gifts. When you start to like yourself and to feel good in your own skin, you’re primed to appreciate the good things about yourself and your life.
Live Your Values
Sometimes our actions don’t match our desires. When we make an effort to change that, we can start to more easily bask in contentment. For example. Having a clear conscience by choosing to do what you know is right will contribute to a mindset that allows true progress to occur. As will living your truth without worrying about what others think.
Take Care of Yourself
When you’re physically rundown, it can be nearly impossible to reach a good place mentally. That’s because you’re too tired to pursue your goals or you don’t feel well enough to look on the bright side of life. Remember, it’s much easier to dwell on the negative than to notice the positive. If you’re low on energy or don’t feel physically well, you’re more likely to remain stuck in a cycle of negativity than if you feel fresh and active.
Keep Growing
Look for ways to continue self-growth if you want to be content. This can include learning something new, indulging in an experience you’ve always wanted to do, or simply trying to be a better version of yourself than you were yesterday. Stagnation leads to feeling stuck and unfulfilled for most of us. Growth allows for positive feelings like pride, excitement, and, yes, contentment.
There are so many other ways you can focus on the positive moments to cultivate contentment. Perhaps this list will give you a jumpstart you can build upon in ways that fit you and your own life.
