If you want to be happy be contented

In his homily during the First Friday mass of the BCBP (Brotherhood For Christian Businessmen and Professional), the priest issued this reminder: "If you want to be happy, be content. Be happy with what you have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have.  Comparing ourselves with our neighbors will only bring unhappiness, discontent, and envy.  We  should count the blessings that God has showered upon us. Instead of whining, we should instead sow kindness, compassion, love and generosity to our neighbors, especially those who are in need. Doing these can give us profound joy and happiness.”

Writer Nazeer Ahmed Kazi in the DECCAN Herald website has this to say, “Love of this world, with all its enjoyment, may distract us from seeking the hereafter. We should always remember that the main purpose of our existence is to worship God. Contentment is the key to success and happiness, and greed is just contrary to it. Man’s lust for power and luxurious life, greed for leading a better life and craze to go on increasing the standard of living and unending desire to maximize  his gains and pleasure – all incline him to  earn more, grab resources as much as he can even by exploiting, usurping or denying others rights. Then, man become callous…”

To prove further his point, Kazi shared this story, "Once upon a time, a cloth merchant  lived in a village with his wife and two children. They had a beautiful hen which was laying golden egg  every day, but the man was not satisfied with this. He wanted to get all golden eggs from his hen at one count. One day, he decided to kill the hen and get all the egg. He took a sharp knife, chopped off its neck and opened its body. There was nothing, but blood all around and no trace of any golden egg at  all. How jinxed and how foolish he was? He became a pauper. .”  Lesson, “One who desires more loses all, one should remain satisfied with what one gets.”

How can we be content in this mundane world? Leo Babauta cites the following ways:

Take  a moment to be grateful for something. What in your life is amazing?  It might simply be that you have beauty somewhere nearby, or that you are alive, or that your kids are healthy. Find something and give thanks for that.

Find the little things that can give you simple joy. What do you need to be happy?  Love simple things like taking a walk, spending time with a loved one, reading a book, drinking tea and other things you like doing. These cost very little and require very little, and can make you very happy. Find the simple things  that give you happiness, and focus on those rather than what you don’t  have.

Find the things about yourself that you’re happy with. We tend to criticize ourselves easily, but what if we turned it around and asked, “What do I do right? What am I good at? What is lovable about  me?” Make a list. Start to  focus on these things rather than what you’re unhappy with.

Do the same with others in your life. Instead of criticizing them, ask yourself ,”What is good about this person? What do I love about him or her?  Make a list and focus on these things.