5 Ways To Feel More Content And Happier

Simply being content and satisfied with life is easier said than done. If you really want to feel content in life, you need to start taking practical steps in the right direction. Without moving forward, you will not be able to begin the process of feeling content no matter what might be happening around you.
The journey to being content will not start overnight. Instead, you can take one step at a time until you are on the right path. Remember that being content is a journey, not a destination.

Make Contentment Your Mindset

Most people don’t know that contentment and satisfaction actually start with your mindset. People can be content in their minds regardless of the situation they are in. If you make satisfaction your mindset, you can choose to be satisfied right here and right now regardless of external factors you have going on.

Satisfaction is what keeps us content, so if we are able to be satisfied, we can also be content. Keep in mind that your level of satisfaction might be different than someone else’s. It’s important not to compare yourself to others as this can hinder your growth and contentment.

If you are comparing yourself to others, you will never be truly satisfied because you will be concentrating more on what other people have and how you can be like them.

Being satisfied is hardest when you are currently in need of something. You might feel like you have to have something before you can be satisfied. Practicing gratitude is the best thing to do when you are feeling like this. Try thinking about the things you have now instead of the things you want. Make a list of the things you are thankful for and learn to be content without those extra things you think you need.
As with any new mindset or habit, you need to make sure you are practicing it every day. This means you need to take time each day to remind yourself to be satisfied and content. Start by being grateful for small things and eventually you will be able to be grateful for the big things as well.
Being centered on satisfaction will help you feel content at work and in your home life. This will also improve your relationships and make those around you feel more content as well.
Staying positive is also part of being content. Even when things do not go your way, make sure you are remembering the positive things to keep your mind and body light.

Let Go Of Expectations

Anyone who has begun a journey of contentment and satisfaction will tell you that having unrealistic expectations can make it almost impossible to be content in your current situation. You will always be wondering what’s next or how you can make your life better instead of focusing on the present. Expectations come naturally though which makes it very hard to break the cycle of having them. Some expectations are good if they are making you reach your goals or pushing you to make a difference.
If you find that your expectations are making it difficult for you to grow and focus though, it’s time to make a change. Keep in mind there is also a difference between wanting more and expecting it.

Wanting more from like can motivate you to reach your goals. It can also push you to work towards getting a promotion or trying harder for success. However, expecting promotions or success rarely ends well. You might find yourself getting constantly angry or upset when you do not get the things you expect from work. The same can go for relationships. Wanting more from your friends or significant other is normal, but expecting them to do more when they have not in the past can set you up for being let down. Letting go of expectations can also allow you to make progress in your selfdevelopment. It can help you to grow as a person because you are letting go
of the things you cannot control.
In order to focus less on expectations, you need to let go of the outcome. For example, if they are giving promotions at work, you can want to get the job but you should not expect anything. This will ensure you are staying content whether you get the new job or not.
You also need to search for proof. This means you need to know if you are doing everything you can to even get the promotion. Are you working hard? Are you stepping in and showing leadership qualities? Does the boss or CEO of the company know you and know that you can handle a higher job in the company? You can’t expect anything if you are not working towards it. Always make sure you are doing everything you can to work towards the things you are desiring.

Learn How to Self Love

Self-love and self are much more important than you may think. You need to make sure you are making time for self-love even if your schedule seems packed. Your self-worth is being attacked every time you turn on the TV or use social media because there are always people who seem to be doing better than you.
You might also compare yourself to family or friends that seem more successful. During these moments, you need to take a break and give yourself self love. Focus on the difference you are making in the world rather than always focusing on the world around you.
Keep in mind that self-love does not mean being stagnated. You can still grow as an individual while being satisfied with who you are right now. Focus on loving yourself but also growing yourself at the same time- it’s completely possible to do both.
To make self-love easier, spend time doing the things you love the most. You can also spend more time with people who love you and encourage you.

Learn to Tame Your Inner Voice

Learning to tame your inner voice is one of the hardest parts of being content.
Everyone has an inner voice. Although, yours might speak to you more or less than others. Sometimes your inner voice can be negative and tell you that you’re not good enough.
To tame the inner voice, you can’t just ignore it. You have to learn to listen to it and then tame it when it starts to speak negatively. The easiest way to do this is to replace the negative thoughts with more positive ones. You should also consider why your inner voice is telling you certain negative thoughts. Maybe you have undealt with trauma that is causing though negative voices inside your head. If you want to tame the inner voice, you will need to deal with the trauma first.
If you can’t replace the negative thought with a positive one, you can just do something that makes you happy to draw those negative thoughts out. This could be something as simple as listening to your favorite song or going for a walk with your pet.
Sometimes your inner voice can also be too positive. This sometimes isn’t a problem, but it can become an issue if your voice is always seeking the next step instead of being grounded in the present.
Make sure your inner voice is not living too far into the future because it can distract you from what is most important right now.
Being present also means focusing more on your inner victories. You can take time to celebrate them and enjoy the sweetness of accomplishing something you set out to do.

Learn to Live With Less

A large part of being discontent is feeling like you need more when you could be living with less. Maybe you want a better car or a larger home. You might even compare yourself to others who have more and wonder why you can’t live like them.
Having more thought can also lead to more stress and feeling overwhelmed. The larger your house, the more you have to clean and take care of. The more clothes you have, the more space you need for them and the more laundry you have to do. All of this can contribute to stress and feeling low.
You can have an abundant life without owning so many things. You can also save money when you have less stuff. You will be able to take more of your money and put it in places that matter such as your savings or paying off debt early.
Part of living with less also means de-cluttering and living minimally. Take a few days and clear out things from your home that you no longer need. It can be clothes, extra furniture, extra items that your kids no longer need, etc. You will be surprised how much better you feel when you are able to get rid of all the things in life you no longer use.
Learning to live with less applies to all areas of life including work and relationships. If you can spend less time at work and more time at home, you will be able to have better relationships with your family.
You can also maximize your workspace and clear out your work area just like you did with your home. If there are relationships in your life that are not benefiting you, you can spend less time with those people and set boundaries.
Only spend time with the people who are adding value to your life and encouraging you.

Try New Things

Many people avoid stepping out of their comfort zone because they are afraid to fail. Even more, people refuse to try new things because they feel like they don’t have time. Trying new things is imperative to feeling content though. Sometimes you need to learn a new interest and fall in love with life again. This can be a new hobby, visiting a new place, taking a vacation, or going back to an old hobby that you have not tried in a long time.
All of these things can make you feel more confident and assured with yourself. You will also need to learn that there are new levels of happiness. Sometimes people tend to self-sabotage when they are feeling happy because they might feel like they don’t deserve it. Some people also find it easier to self-sabotage because they are worried failure is around the corner.
Feeling happier than ever before means your life has created a new level of happiness and that is a beautiful thing. Just live in your new happiness and don’t let anyone take it away from you, including yourself.
You can also try new things with others if you are worried about doing it alone. You can also try new things in your relationships. This can allow you to open up more to other people and reach new levels of happiness together.
Remember that trying something new doesn’t have to mean an overhaul of your current life. It can simply be doing something that you feel passionate about. It can also be trying something you have wanted to try for a long time.
Don’t get stressed about trying new things. Just go with the flow and try new things as they come.

Final Thoughts
Being content with life is a journey, not a destination. The feeling of contentment and satisfaction will not come overnight. It’s something you have to set your mind to and work towards.
Once you have satisfaction as a mindset, the next steps will become much easier. You can begin to see the positive in every situation which will lead to greater contentment. You will also be able to spread that positivity to others which will make them feel more content as well.
Always make sure you are striving to live with less and contentment will come
naturally more and more every day.