“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus, Greek philosopher, BC 341-270
Life is difficult.
Living in an economy where inflation rates is very high; where you have to decide whether to fill your gasoline tank or feed your family; where the more you spend time at work, the more the government takes more from your paycheck; where as technology advances, your cost of living increases; where when you leave the house, the more you drain your savings, that is, if there is still any; where when you take that dollar bill, you know that it cannot buy what it used to; and more. The list can be endless. The human tendency is to whine, complain, and blame somebody else for all of these things.
Life is difficult today, I must say again.
It’s a fact. It’s a reality. I think, acceptance here is the key. Acceptance here does not mean an act of surrendering to the situation, but rather an acknowledgment of what is really happening in and around you.
Life is difficult but acceptance of this fact means being contented.
Reality check: there are many things today that you want, but you do not actually need, and they can wait. And more often those wants and 'perceived' needs are already in our possession, and we are simply blinded by our innate desires to want more. As Frederick Koenig puts it,
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
That is contentment.
We can weather this recession if we focus on and appreciate (better yet, be thankful for) the things that we have now, rather than on things that we think and feel we can’t live without. Take a quick inventory, and see what I mean.
Am I making sense?
Good point.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that the more you focus on what you don't have, you'll never have enough. But try to reflect on what you have at present, and you will realize that you are blessed even far beyond what you deserve.
Accepting what life is at the moment and realizing that it's useless to worry over something you have little, or no control of, will spare you from a lot of stress and misery.
Don't let your worries stop you from savoring what you have in the here and now. The quality of life no matter how difficult it is, still greatly depends on what you make out of it.
Very nice blog!
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely making sense and this is a no-nonsense post. Unending litany of whinings and complaints from everywhere can add up to the misery of this world. Why can't people just be happy and content for whatever little things we have? We can always make do with it for as long as we take each day as a blessing and always feel the contentment in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately, human nature is never content. The sermon in our church today is closely related to this post. The world has gone so materialistic. The only thing that matters to most people these days is money, money, money. We forget that our sole purpose here on earth is make the most out of the life that is given to us. We are mere sojourners and all these are all but fleeting. We should seek on the life hereafter where there is contentment, happiness, abundance and peace.
OUR JOURNEY TO FOREVER
LAINY'S MUSINGS
Gratitude is one of our direct connections to God. I agree if you can hold on during this tough time you will be greatly rewarded in the good times.
ReplyDeleteI am very versed with the first part of the Greek Philisopher's saying, but the second part, though looks quite obvious, is very great in meaning.
ReplyDeleteTake for example that you have a bike. You once hoped for it and nothing could convinvce you that yuo won't be happy when you get it. In fact, you were happy, but now that joy has faded away because you desire a car. After a car, what next? Maybe a chopper, ship or plane? There is no end in this race if you choose to run it.
It is good to hope for better things but at the same time, we should consider them optional and be contented with what we have.
I don't say ambitions are not good, but do not let them kill you.
@ kcee
ReplyDelete'love what you said: The quality of life no matter how difficult it is, still greatly depends on what you make out of it.
Thanks Barbabra1 ^^
@ scotty's princess
Looking beyond what we see and feel now will always be the key to contentment.
@ rick
Thank you for mentioning that. I should have amplified that here.
Thanks for th visit Nobe! ^^<
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts! Cheers!