My brother! Who does not have a computer, an old cellphone from the 90s and absolutely no social media… Wakes up happy every day, and jumps out of bed with a smile. I think he lives in a parallell existence free from chasing what he does not already have…
It is hard to tell who is truly happy and satisfied. I have learned to rest at my core and when I do, I feel happy and satisfied. But it is not permanent. But maybe that is the way of this life – impermanence.
My mother – for no matter how many burdens she carries in her elderly age, she preaches contentment, never complains about how things “ought” to be and encourages and supports me all along the way no matter how hard it gets.
The dog of a blind patient, her name is Leyla. She always seems to be happy and content. While doing her job she looks contented, while resting, while waiting and while being stroked. I love this dog.
A dog – thanks Hermann-Josef. I was coming up blank, and I appreciate your answer. My guinea pig seems more old and tired than contented, but at least she doesn’t seem to be suffering.
I have been asked this question so many times and so many ways – who is your role model – who is your mentor, etc.
I do not have one – never had.
I am sure unconsciously many folks have influenced me, but it was always hard enough trying to be my authentic self, finding peace and contentment in my life, that I did not want to try to model “me” after someone else.
I would say my husband. He happily putters around the house (we are retired) and seems to always be busy doing something. He appreciates good food and loves to watch movies; he prefers staying home to going out. He is an introvert so this lifestyle suits him. I, on the other hand, am an extrovert, and he is happy for me to go out and be with friends as often as I want.
Contentment, or acceptance? Contentment seems to imply “happy acceptance”. The first person who came to mind was Thich Nhat Hanh as a role model in the sense of admiration.
I tend not to think of people as role models though–I think of them as teachers. They’re playing their role; whatever it is; I’m playing my role and I’m the only model for that. I learn what I can from others and when I apply it then it becomes uniquely me and mine.
Thinking of someone in the “role model” category implies striving to be like someone else when I’m really just trying to be myself, and I’m often quite content. When I’m not it’s usually for larger rather than smaller reasons.
This question can help me try to remember not to sweat the small stuff but unlike the poster saying, it isn’t all small stuff. I can’t be contented about many of the conditions in the world–if I were it would mean I’m a psychopath.
We are invited to be thankful in all circumstances. That does not mean for all circumstances. And that does not mean I need to accept all of them either. Gratitude, though, seems to offer a space where we can see things as they are, not as we wish them to be.
Perhaps that is contentment.
I appreciate your response, too, about role models! Thanks.
As is sometimes the case, I pondered the question and couldn’t come up with just one person, so I read the reflections, and as usual, found so much wisdom here. True contentment is rare. In fact, I don’t know anyone who is content 100% of the time (especially me), but I do have friends that have qualities that I admire and help with contentment and practicing gratitude here with you all, gives me inspiration.
Yes and equally unfair when others put themselves on a pedestal, the unspoken harm done in their quest for power and prestige. Unimaginable suffering in our world today, so many lives devastated at one person’s quest.
All the ordinary people who, like us here on this website, make it through another day with all it’s challenges. Because we try again and again. We are the heros.
I admire Jane Goodall, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and other great people, but we are just as great just in other areas of life.
Like the Statue of Liberty, our collective right feet are in motion. We don’t give up. We keep going. We all have times where we pause, want to give up, don’t want to keep going and in our despondency, sometimes our grief, we work through it all and keep putting that foot in motion.
To know I am not alone, to know there are others who are doing the same-THAT gives me a feeling of contentment, a feeling of satisfaction and even joy because we will not give up, all of us. Together. That is the only answer I can think of for now, and it fits for me. Enjoy this day, and remember that right foot….
I started to read about contentment, which seem at this time in my understanding, to lead to the sustained peace and ease of body, speech and mind,…. some I have learned, some I have heard about and some are adventures not yet taken into unknown territory. So, at this time, my role models are Gurus, and fellow travelers and anyone and hopefully everyone who either directly or indirectly teaches me something about the qualities or aspects of contentment that lay within our true nature. hmm– hmm Will I even live long enough to make all the necessary changes in myself that would bring that into being.
My mom. She had her share of difficulties but she stayed grounded. She practiced self-care before we had a name for it, taking a break from daily chores to read or to watch the squirrels and birds through the front window.
There are a number of individuals such as brother David whom I have listened to and been exposed to in recent years. It is amazing how that even through adversity and troubling times, gratitude and acceptance has kept these people in a positive mind set. I try to practice what they preach to allow me to become truly at peace with myself.
Most creatures on our planet seem to be content being what they were created to be ; lions lying in the sun, dogs rolling on their backs in the grass, eagles soaring in the vastness of the beautiful sky…
maybe infants and babies before being trained to become something. Perhaps when we humans remember to be aware of our humanity and become authentically human, we will return to contentment.
Daphne – my cat – she is a companion, is a delight to watch and play with, gives me joy and love.
Nature – all her beauty
this website – has grounded me and made me feel at peace and grateful each and every day:)
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My brother! Who does not have a computer, an old cellphone from the 90s and absolutely no social media… Wakes up happy every day, and jumps out of bed with a smile. I think he lives in a parallell existence free from chasing what he does not already have…
It is hard to tell who is truly happy and satisfied. I have learned to rest at my core and when I do, I feel happy and satisfied. But it is not permanent. But maybe that is the way of this life – impermanence.
My mother – for no matter how many burdens she carries in her elderly age, she preaches contentment, never complains about how things “ought” to be and encourages and supports me all along the way no matter how hard it gets.
The dog of a blind patient, her name is Leyla. She always seems to be happy and content. While doing her job she looks contented, while resting, while waiting and while being stroked. I love this dog.
Dogs are a blessing.
A dog – thanks Hermann-Josef. I was coming up blank, and I appreciate your answer. My guinea pig seems more old and tired than contented, but at least she doesn’t seem to be suffering.
I have been asked this question so many times and so many ways – who is your role model – who is your mentor, etc.
I do not have one – never had.
I am sure unconsciously many folks have influenced me, but it was always hard enough trying to be my authentic self, finding peace and contentment in my life, that I did not want to try to model “me” after someone else.
I would say my husband. He happily putters around the house (we are retired) and seems to always be busy doing something. He appreciates good food and loves to watch movies; he prefers staying home to going out. He is an introvert so this lifestyle suits him. I, on the other hand, am an extrovert, and he is happy for me to go out and be with friends as often as I want.
Contentment, or acceptance? Contentment seems to imply “happy acceptance”. The first person who came to mind was Thich Nhat Hanh as a role model in the sense of admiration.
I tend not to think of people as role models though–I think of them as teachers. They’re playing their role; whatever it is; I’m playing my role and I’m the only model for that. I learn what I can from others and when I apply it then it becomes uniquely me and mine.
Thinking of someone in the “role model” category implies striving to be like someone else when I’m really just trying to be myself, and I’m often quite content. When I’m not it’s usually for larger rather than smaller reasons.
This question can help me try to remember not to sweat the small stuff but unlike the poster saying, it isn’t all small stuff. I can’t be contented about many of the conditions in the world–if I were it would mean I’m a psychopath.
We are invited to be thankful in all circumstances. That does not mean for all circumstances. And that does not mean I need to accept all of them either. Gratitude, though, seems to offer a space where we can see things as they are, not as we wish them to be.
Perhaps that is contentment.
I appreciate your response, too, about role models! Thanks.
As is sometimes the case, I pondered the question and couldn’t come up with just one person, so I read the reflections, and as usual, found so much wisdom here. True contentment is rare. In fact, I don’t know anyone who is content 100% of the time (especially me), but I do have friends that have qualities that I admire and help with contentment and practicing gratitude here with you all, gives me inspiration.
No One because I’ve learned that it is not fare to place anyone on a pedestal. Why? They are bound to fall off.
Yes and equally unfair when others put themselves on a pedestal, the unspoken harm done in their quest for power and prestige. Unimaginable suffering in our world today, so many lives devastated at one person’s quest.
All the ordinary people who, like us here on this website, make it through another day with all it’s challenges. Because we try again and again. We are the heros.
I admire Jane Goodall, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and other great people, but we are just as great just in other areas of life.
Like the Statue of Liberty, our collective right feet are in motion. We don’t give up. We keep going. We all have times where we pause, want to give up, don’t want to keep going and in our despondency, sometimes our grief, we work through it all and keep putting that foot in motion.
To know I am not alone, to know there are others who are doing the same-THAT gives me a feeling of contentment, a feeling of satisfaction and even joy because we will not give up, all of us. Together. That is the only answer I can think of for now, and it fits for me. Enjoy this day, and remember that right foot….
Thank you for this. I had never thought about that foot in motion–what a wonderful image and reminder.
I started to read about contentment, which seem at this time in my understanding, to lead to the sustained peace and ease of body, speech and mind,…. some I have learned, some I have heard about and some are adventures not yet taken into unknown territory. So, at this time, my role models are Gurus, and fellow travelers and anyone and hopefully everyone who either directly or indirectly teaches me something about the qualities or aspects of contentment that lay within our true nature. hmm– hmm Will I even live long enough to make all the necessary changes in myself that would bring that into being.
My mom. She had her share of difficulties but she stayed grounded. She practiced self-care before we had a name for it, taking a break from daily chores to read or to watch the squirrels and birds through the front window.
There are a number of individuals such as brother David whom I have listened to and been exposed to in recent years. It is amazing how that even through adversity and troubling times, gratitude and acceptance has kept these people in a positive mind set. I try to practice what they preach to allow me to become truly at peace with myself.
Most creatures on our planet seem to be content being what they were created to be ; lions lying in the sun, dogs rolling on their backs in the grass, eagles soaring in the vastness of the beautiful sky…
maybe infants and babies before being trained to become something. Perhaps when we humans remember to be aware of our humanity and become authentically human, we will return to contentment.
Daphne – my cat – she is a companion, is a delight to watch and play with, gives me joy and love.
Nature – all her beauty
this website – has grounded me and made me feel at peace and grateful each and every day:)