Contentment is…

Woof, bark, yip-yappety, arf!

Gia, translated thus: Contentment is a whatever’s left in the peanut butter jar.

Long ago, I read a book by Byron Katie called LOVING WHAT IS. She is an amazing guide and I gleaned tremendously. Her wisdom ran a mile deep. Luckily, I have tall boots and could stay awhile, float in the depths of her stories, and swim madly in wave after wave.

When I am perfectly clear, what is is what I want.

Byron Katie

WHAT IS… is what I want. Sounds like contentment to me. That whatever is, whoever is, however is… is happening right on time, just as it is meant to be. It’s when I release controlling and thinking I have to manage and strategize, manipulate and figure out — exhausting — WHEN I LET GO, when I allow… when I throw my arms side to side, heart wide open, mouth full of gratitude… THIS is when contentment settles into me, into my space.

Whatever is happening right now is the best thing that could be happening!

me, and let me tell you that this is uncomfortable business but big time rewarding

This is when I not only experience “enough” and contentment, but when I BECOME that, when I EMBODY contentment. Contentment as a frequency in my physical body, and not just a thought, concept, or good idea.

I AM CONTENTMENT and therefore I experience contentment.

What happened was the best thing that could have happened.

Byron Katie

We want things to make sense. We’ve been taught, programmed even, to believe that we should be able to make logical sense of everything happening. Thinking that we are entitled to controlling how things turn out and how we feel — which, come on, we always want to feel comfortable — we manage and think three steps ahead, feeling victimized and helpless if we don’t get the best tickets, that car, a better house, the other to acknowledge our worthiness. We fear fear fear so much! People aren’t supposed to die (yes, they are) and we’re not supposed to feel so sad (there are seasons when this is exactly our fate) and we’re entitled to having every dream come into reality (I actually don’t think so, sweet soul. I know, hard to hear.)

The best thing that one can do when it is raining is let it rain.

H. W. Longfellow

We’re here in a human body to experience, er, being human… in all its messiness and heartache, misunderstandings and what-the-fucks. Life doesn’t make sense oftentimes. And yet. This is life.

Being content is not the same thing as being happy. It’s more like being grateful for what is and not trying to change things.

my friend Joel, who passed at age 63 full of contentment

What a gift, then, is this CONTENTMENT frequency. To be at ease in the heart, in the mind, and in the body with WHAT IS… which doesn’t mean you don’t ever want for anything else… but that you receive and allow for what is with an open heart and gentle spirit.

For just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.

Lev Grossman, The Magicians

As an aside, I think you can be content and grieve simultaneously. It may be one of those things in life that just doesn’t make sense. And yet. This is life.

If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.

The Wizard of Oz

This has been a learned practice for me, and one which I am still a second-grader most days if I’m being honest. Contentment does not come naturally and some days not easily for me. I am that always-reaching-always-more-always-digging kid… but many days, it’s digging in the manure pile for the pony so there’s that. I am, after all this time, maturing, growing, allowing, surrendering, thanking.

Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky.

Dr. Seuss

Content. With what is. No more, no less. Here, now.

These aren’t platitudes. Those suck big donkey balls and bare no fruit by harvest, so great ideas and nicie-nice hopefuls is not what I’m suggesting here. Nope. That would be cruel and a waste of time.

What I am saying is, with a practice of gratitude and intention, we can allow energies of lack and victimhood, entitlement and fear to be dislodged, felt, and moved through our bodies… giving rise to peace, love, joy, contentment.

Loving what is… contentment.

How about you? Can you feel this contentment frequency into your body? What does this feel like in you? What does being content mean to you right now? How would we all benefit from allowing “this much” to be ENOUGH and be content with what is?

Here is a short practice you can do right now to allow CONTENTMENT:

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and smile. Roll your shoulders around a few times, hug your arms deeply then open them up widely side-to-side. Lift your chin. Speak: I AM I AM I AM. Imagine a large tree full of leaves, laden heavy with an array of gorgeous colors. Notice them for as long as you want.

Edgy, joyful, pondering…

Lisa

If you like these ponderings, please check out my 30-day journals. They’re just perfect for someone like you. 🙂 Downloadable pdfs on a variety of topics. Sure to encourage, inspire, motivate, and create meaningful ponderings. ❤