In this article, I will discuss the attributes of contentment and the effect of lack of it. Contentment is the state of being peaceful and satisfied with whatever you have and achieved in life. It is like peaceful ease of mind or the rest of mind you have towards yourself and whatever you have achieved. A contented man will not be filled with greed or envy rather he will enjoy whatever he has achieved through his labor. It’s being satisfied with what you have, whatever that is. Said differently, it means you are pleased with whatever is going on in your life.
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5 Attributes of Contentment
- Satisfaction
- Lack of envy
- Humility
- Discipline
- Abhorrence of greed and corruption
Satisfaction: It is the pleasure you derive from whatever you have. This means you are not looking for ways to steal, rob, or do any wicked act to add to the number of shoes you have. This doesn’t mean you have relented to work hard or to aim higher; it just means you have peace of mind with whatever you have achieved.
Lack of envy: Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another’s good fortune, stirred by “those who have what we ought to have. A contented person will be void of envy i.e. he will not be discontented or resentful by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or achievements.
Humility: This is one of the attributes of contentment. To be humble is not the same as having low self-esteem or an inferiority complex. It just means you don’t overestimate yourself or your importance. It is the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance.
Discipline: It is the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards. A disciplined man will know how to manage his resource so as guide him against greed or corruption. And when you are disciplined, you will be contented.
Abhorrence of greed and corruption: Greed is an uncontrolled longing for the increase in the acquisition or use of material gain; or social value, such as status, or power while corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted with a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain. Greed and corruption is not an attribute of contentment because a contented person doesn’t long for people’s materials or abuse power.
Effect of Lack of Contentment
Lack of contentment means being discontented with whatever you have, and this can lead to the following
- It can lead a man to commit a criminal offense
- Dissatisfaction and unhappiness can lead to depression
- It can lead to unhealthy competition
- It leads to corruption
- It makes a man greedy
- It results in envy and jealousy
- It leads to cheating
- It can also lead to theft
