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Why are humans never content?
All of us want more. But why, even if we have it all, a loving a family, a beautiful home and well paid job, what more could we want? But of course there is always that shiny new car or a higher paid job or even that younger better looking spouse.
We are (almost) without doubt super intelligent beings. So how is it that we are incapable of being 100% satisfied with our lives.
Not that this is necessarily a bad thing because it is probably the very same discontent feelings that has enabled us to evolve into this advanced animal lying at the top of the food chain looking down on the rest through the lens of an iphone camera.
Conversely there are some who supposedly have been 100% content with their lives. Though i am rather sceptical, I am referring to those who have reached the state of enlightenment, like the buddha or maybe even the Dalai Lama. But is this state of mind (all though desirable) even possible? I don't think anyone can resist the sweet temptation of wanting some form of improvement to their world.
Maybe these "enlightened folk" have just wholly accepted the fact that you will never be completely satisfied. In other words to be content with never being Content, that is about as close as i can interpret the fantasy of enlightenment. But i'm just not content with that.
Debra Smith 200+
Tim Petersen
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
But the world would be a wilder and more hostile place if all desires are permitted. One man could grab a woman and rape her if his 'thing' rises; I can enter a KFC outlet and grab your chicken because the aroma made me salivate.
For the world to be a happy place, quite a lot of restraint is neccessary. Sometimes far too much restraint than we are willing to have.
A surrender to all our desires would result in anger,jealousies,lies,war and intolerance. Every civilised, reasonable and sane human must have a set of principles by which he or she chooses to reject some instincts and to permit others.
Humanity is plagued by knowing what ought to be done and not doing it. We usually take the easy way, because at times the right thing is not the convinient; sometimes societal good clashes with our appetites. And so far, most of us are not good at being masters over our appetite.
Nabila Aziz Siddiqui
Bernard Seremonia
In certain people that realize their lives are filled with fairness, they tend to be satisfied. But the best fairness is when we are able to expand our consciousness, which can be directed to achieve long lasting happiness that covered with gratitude & sincere love.
Why are humans never content? Because they couldn't get fairness.
Less or more ...
jenni logue
Colleen talks of living in the moment also. Live in the moment, set the intention of what you desire, release the past, and let your life unfold in front of you. There is an intelligence far greater than our IQ, a bigger picture if you will. Tap into this intelligence by living in the moment and you will be guided into a fabulous future, one step at a time. And as Colleen also stated, YOU CAN MAKE CHOICES!
Sitaram Naik
Even people like Buddha never achieved contentment. They started searching for something more valuable. In that process, they ignored the low-valued materialistic world.
As we grow and find valuable things, we start ignoring low valued things. Read this article to grow faster in life.
http://www.complexproblems.in/Concentration.htm
Colleen Steen 500+
Are you confusing the words content and complacent?
Your link suggests that we utilize full potential, capability and concentration.
One who is content, often utilizes full potential and capabilities while focusing/concentrating and living in the moment.
One who is complacent, may not, as the word means self-satisfied, or unconcerned. Perhaps it is a "complacent" person who might benefit from additional focus, concentration and utilizing potential and capabilities?
Personally, I feel content and very much alive:>)
Allan Macdougall 30+
I'm not sure intelligence equates with life satisfaction and contentment, especially given that the modern definition of intelligence is related to complexity and quantity of knowledge.
Aren't the most contented people those who are in a position to simplify their lives through, as an example, the quality and sustainabilty of indigenous, local knowledge? Is simplification therefore dumb, or intelligent?
Colleen Steen 500+
Perhaps it depends on what kind of intelligence we are talking about? I agree that the most contented people are those who can make decisions to simplify their lives, if that is what will help create contentment. Many people are very intelligent, and still cannot make the choices which will bring more contentment to their lives. I don't get it, but then, their choices are not my responsibility.
I've had very, very intelligent people say they want to live the kind of life I live....content. And yet, they will not make the simple choices which might facilitate what they say they want. I think/feel that one underlying factor is that many people seem to give up the idea that we have choices.
Colleen Steen 500+
I am content, and have been so most of my life. Contentment is a choice. There are many people in our world who have very little materialistically, and are very content with their life experience. The only thing I want more of is learning, and I will be doing that until I take my last breath...and maybe beyond:>)
You have named it appropriately dear Zac...a "state of mind". Perhaps it is not actually accepting being "content with never being content". Maybe it's more like being comfortable with discomfort at times...you know...making lemonade out of lemons:>)
Chetan Somani
Gerald O'brian 50+