contentment

True affluence is not needing anything.

She had nothing to wish otherwise, but that the days did not pass so swiftly. It was a delightful visit;__erfect, in being much too short.

The moment we go looking for anything outside of ourselves, i.e., when we make our happiness contingent on another, we have a serious problem. All of the emotions and feelings that we have come from within__e have those natural capacities ourselves. If we did not have an appetite to begin with, food would hold no appeal. It does not make us hungry; it merely stimulates that hunger inside of us. The same is true of all virtues and vices. Everything we need to gratify us can be found within, if only we venture to look and not pay heed to the bright and blinding lights that have enthralled most of this world.

Once you have the gift of life, you are blessed.

We need much less than we think we need.

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.

.... just find your way, like a river settling into its bed, and the sigh of the wind over a lake, light but restful... content with the joy in the arc of an arm throwing a ball for a dog to fetch, the ease of the grassy slope stretching away, birds in the trees singing sweet high notes, flowers growing close in the ditch.

Americans were convinced in their own minds that they were very miserable, and those who think so are so. There is nothing so easy as to persuade people that they are badly governed. Take happy and comfortable people and talk to them with the art of the evil one, and they can soon be made discontented with their government, their rulers, with everything around them, and even with themselves.

I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.

Being content is perhaps no less easy than playing the violin well: and requires no less practice.

At some point, you gotta let go, and sit still, and allow contentment to come to you.

The angel of God, having secretly Betrothed us one winter day,Watches over our carefree livesWith fixed, darkening eyesBecause of this we love the sky,Keen air, the fresh windAnd the blackening branchesBehind the iron fence.Because of this we love the sternDark city with its many waterways.And we love our partings,And our brief meetings.

A dying man needs to die, as a sleepy man needs to sleep, and there comes a time when it is wrong, as well as useless, to resist.

Life is contentment.

There is no health in those who are displeased by an element in Your creation, just as there was none in me when I was displeased by many things You had made. Because my soul didn't dare to say that my God displeased me, it refused to attribute to You whatever was displeasing.

Never be content with your work, even if you are good at what you do, look at tightrope walkers _ they don't stay in one place for a long time, they keep moving because no matter how confident they are about the efforts and skill set, a strong wind factor can hinder all the efforts. Improve & improvise because this time it was the wind, next time it could be rain, hailstones or sand storms.

The search for contentment is, therefore, not merely a self-preserving and self-benefiting act, but also a generous gift to the world. Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else. Only then are you free to serve and enjoy other people.

Happiness was not a word that seemed to apply anymore, when she had lost so many close to her. There was a contentment that felt deeper, that acknowledged and accepted the quieter offerings of small joys-- of love and occasional peace in a life that was full of pain.