Are You Happy With What You Have Or Do You Want More To Make You Happy?
By sunshinelady
@sunshinelady (7609)
United States
May 31, 2007 10:20am CST
Over the years I have listened to people talk and some of these people have so much more than others. I am not just talking material things either. And I hear them complain about if only they had. Why can't people be happy with what blessings they have? My husband used to complain about if only we had more money. I mentioned to him one day that at least he has a retirement check coming in and there are people out there that have to worry about where the next rent or house payment is coming from. That they struggle day to day making ends meet. He quit making that comment. I got something in the email and I wanted to share it with you all.
"Nine requisites for contented living: Health enough to make work a
pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength enough to
battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess
your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good
is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.
Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith
enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all
anxious fears concerning the future."
-- JoHann von Goethe
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Sometimes the only thing we don't have enough of is the realization
that we already have more than enough to be happy. Happiness is not
a condition, it is a choice, and just as we can choose to be
patient and charitable and strong, we can choose to be happy, too,
no matter how little of anything we may think we have.
May you always realize you have enough to be content.
5 people like this
17 responses
@gsnarayanan (1704)
• India
1 Jun 07
Hi,
An excellant quote! I liked the quots. Content in life is the threshold for happiness. But I want to point out one thing here. Content is an obstacle for advancement. If our elders were content with what they had they would not hwve opened the avenues for advancement of technology. The stone age man had a greed for good food and shelter. Had he contented with what he had at his time, he would not have invented the wheel. He would not have tried to use the fire to cook food. Every where the greed and desire alone has made the hunman to work hard and hard and invent new things. To day the man is set to touch the heaven along with his body due to the advancement of technology. We are enjoying today the fruits of many sacrifices made only due to the desire of the human being to get more and more in life. Hence I feel that one should be active and not to get contented awith a view to achieve more and more in life. I am sorry that I have bored you too much. Bye.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
No you have not bored me. I like to hear different thoughts. It makes for interesting pondering. I think a person can be happy but want to improve themselves. If people didn't want to improve as you say we wouldn't be where we are today in this world. The thing is for one to be happy and still be able to strive for improvement. Thanks for your response. I liked it.
@gsnarayanan (1704)
• India
1 Jun 07
Oh, Thanks for your good gusture.Such discussions in myLot will make the life.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
gsnarayanan
I love people and like to hear what they have to say. Each person is unique and has valuable things to say. I always listen with listening ears and a open mind. Variety is what makes this world go round. Think how dull this place would be if everyone thought the same way.
@arman_kann (2)
• Pakistan
1 Jun 07
yes,i am happy bcoz i use such ways in my life that keep me smiling and happy.and i also always take care of my happiness.and i dont hurt other people thats why i remain happy always!!!!!
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
That is a good way to keep happy. Keeping from hurting other people means that you are a caring person. This is a nice response. Thanks for responding.
@pammyjeanette (14)
• United States
1 Jun 07
I agree with you completely. I get tired of hearing people complain about if I only had this or that or something else. We should enjoy this life we are living. It is up to us on how we feel and how we live this life. Enjoy it and make the best of what you do have and be happy about it. There are alot of people out there that do have to strugle to make ends meet. And really most of them seem happy. Just enjoy what we do have and be happy. we only get to live this life once. Make it the best.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
I agree with you wholely. If people stopped looking at what they don't have and looking towards what they do have they would be a lot happier. I love life and get up in the mornings thanking God for another day and for my husband who has always stood by me. Thanks for your response.
@netbuster (99)
• India
1 Jun 07
I went through life getting most of what I needed and wanted. I never got too much wealth, but I was healthy and am blessed with a wonderful family.
As you grow old, your wants grow to something which demands a lot of money. It need not be for yourself but maybe for your family needs.
I never had a problem before but now I can't play soccer due to injury, I need money for bigger dreams which involves my son's education. My wants and idea of being happy has changed in time.
What if I do not get my dreams fulfilled? Will I still be happy? I realized that this could change in time again. Things which are beyond one's capacity should not dictate your happiness. I strive to find ways to get around such downers in life. I must say prayers help and family brings strength to our limited capabilities.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
I agree with you. As you move along lifes path your idea of happiness does change. Because you look for different things in life as you get older. I always look inside myself for happiness. Too many things outside of person can dictate happiness or unhappiness. Thanks for your response.
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
1 Jun 07
Honestly I am not sure how to answer this question becasue I don't believe I am happy but can't figure out why . I don't know what is wrong and see others around me happy with there lives . It makes me nervous when something good happens in life becasue I have always found that for every good thing you are guaranteed to have at least three bad things happen .
I know I have felt happiness when my children were born and at different times like that but it was always for such a short period time and then it is gone .
If I could ever have one wish in life it would be for total happiness because with total happiness you wouldn't be lacking anything in life because you would be happy with all that you had and with all that you did .
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
Take a good look around you and see all the blessings you have. I have never found what you said about for every good thind you will have three bad things happen. I don't find that to be true. But keep in mind that is just my own opinion. We all look at things different ways.
@easyzheng (666)
• China
1 Jun 07
I have always been content with what I have owned. Even from the very starting point when I was old enough to understand what "content" meant, I always feel happy with what I had. Now, I have a good family, a good kid; I have a house to live in; I have a job that provides me earning enough for my life; I have a health not so good but not too bad. What else I can expect to get? What I need now is to pray to God to let me keep all these to me all my life. lol.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
Good response. Sounds like you have a good life and appreciate what you have. There are so many people with a lot of different ways of defining contentment or happiness. I am like you as far as what I have I appreciate. I am not in the best of health but I have seen others that are worse off than myself.
@gberlin (3836)
•
31 May 07
I am pretty happy with what I have. Sometimes the finances are a little tight but I turn that over to God and He takes care of me. I have a wife and a daughter and a son. I have many friends. I have a job that I enjoy. I am quite contented for things to continue on like they are going.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
That is the way I am. You don't need money to make you happy. My friends and my family are special people and I thank God everyday for those blessings. Like you sometimes the finances are tight but as I have mentioned to my husband that at least he has his retirement. That takes care of the rent and utilities. There are a lot of people that are not that fortunate. I count my blessings everyday and am happy that I have what I have. Especially a husband that stands by me no matter what. I have had a lot of surgerys over the years and presently am having a bad back problem. Through it all he stands steady where a lot of guys would have thrown the towel in a long time ago. My husband makes me very happy and I love him very much. I also am happy because I have three beautiful grandkids and they live close enough that I can see them regularly. So I have a whole lot to be happy about.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
31 May 07
The only thing that I would like to make me happy is my Health back so that I could be as active as I was before 4 years ago
To go out to work, to go shopping and not get tired after half an hour to walk and walk and not get to the end of the drive and having to slow down so that I can regulate breathing
Apart from that yes I am happy with what I have got
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
I can see what you are talking about. That is not a monetary wish but a wish for your health back so you can do the everyday little things. I will keep you in my prayers. Thanks for your response,dear friend.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 May 07
well I would be happy if I had money which I don't and I have trouble making ends meet. I would also be happy if my health was better and I could see my son happy. After that I do not need much in life.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
Sometimes circumstances get in the way of happiness. Through no fault of a persons own. The best you can do is place it in God's hands and let him take over. It is a hard thing to do. I know.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
1 Jun 07
What a wonderful quotation as it is exactly how I live my life. I have reached a wonderful place in my life where I am utterly content and thank God everyday for his goodness in steering me in the right direct to achieve this status.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
That is wonderful to hear. There are a lot of people that are not content in what and where they are at. I think this quotation is great because it reminds us to be content in what we have.
@sevnthjuly (913)
• Philippines
31 May 07
its really human nature not to be contented in life because no matter how we struggle in life we are still gonna be in search for something. i can never say i am contented with my life no matter how happy i am with my family.
i guess i fear i will never be secure in the future. i can only rely on God's grace and mercy.
its a nice email you received there. points to ponder upon. :)
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
I receive these different emails on a regular basis and like them because they do make a person stop and ponder. I agree with you but shouldn't there be a point that we are satisfied with who we are and with what we have.
@onerygirl (549)
• United States
31 May 07
What a great email to share. I think it is sad that so many people spend there lives thinking....if only I had???? They are not considering the many blessing that they do have. Sometime it takes losing what you have to make you appreciate it.
I try to live each day as if were my last. I tell people that I value them. Recently I uncluttered my life and it is very freeing to get rid of some of the clutter.
Naturally there are days that I wish I could win the lottery or whatever but I believe that is normal. When that happens, I allow myself to daydream as life without dreams is life without living.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
Wishing to win the lottery is called dreaming and there is nothing wrong with that. It is a good thing to let people know everyday that you value them. Because the next minute they could be gone. I am like you I try to live each day as if it were my last day. I am thankful for the blessings I have. I look around and see so many people less fortunate than myself and I have to look upwards and say thank you God.
@lovboop24 (51)
• Philippines
1 Jun 07
as of this moment i can say i am happy because i have a cute little baby girl who always lightens my day and my very loving husband and a very supportive family.But then i can say i'm not contented of what i have right now still im aiming and wanting for more,especially on financial aspect.Though i have a good paying jobs right now and so with my husband still its not enough because we have a lot of expenses .But despite all those im still happy with my life.of course i still want something more.to give my child a better future and to provide her a better life.I think as human as we are we can never be contented we always want something more always seek for something missing in ones life regardless if its a material thing or emotional or other aspect in life.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
1 Jun 07
Good thought. I think some of the reason sometimes we are not content is because we want to give our kids better things than we had. But we also should remember that love is the best thing a parent can give their child.
@mizrae (587)
• United States
31 May 07
Over the years I have noticed many who rely on external "things" or people to be happy and content. They don't realize that they can choose to look to themselves. And this contentment does not mean you won't work or achieve either no matter what your circumstance. Good words to live by.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
31 May 07
I get these type of emails on a regular basis and like them. They give a person something to think about. When I get these I read them and the ones I think are very good I post here for the members. I like things that make a person think. It gives a person a different way of looking at things. I think a better way of looking at things. Thanks for your response.
@reubenace (94)
• Philippines
1 Jun 07
At this point in my life, I would say that I am still struggling to be contented. I could not do away from thinking "if only i have enough". You see, my three sons are all in college and my daughter is in high school and schooling in my country is quite expensive especially if you want your children to have quality education. But I always remind myself that we are still very blessed because I have quite a good job and so is my wife. I am just praying and hoping for us to stay always healthy and with God's grace we could hurdle all the trials in life as one happy family.
1 person likes this
@paradise12 (938)
• India
1 Jun 07
i m very much satisfied with my life.there is enough money to look after our health,there is enough love ,enough friends.i truly agree with ur article.
@mycastle (5)
• United States
1 Jun 07
I been married for almost two years.And we only live from pay check to pay check because my husband is already retired.I am contented for what I have now but it's natural to ask for more or wishing some things that you could not do at this time due to some financial.Trust and believe GOD and Good health.The most thing you'll be happy.Have a good family no matter how broke you are.
1 person likes this
