ITELORUN (Contentment): Five Importance of Contentment.

by Busola Omotoye

Itelorun (Contentment), as it is popularly called in the Yoruba language- is the father of all character. It can also be known as the root of all behaviors; this includes the good and the bad. A person's true character is borne out of contentment.

In this article, we will be discussing on the term more extensively, the importance and the secret of contentment. But first, let's discuss it's

definition.

What is Contentment?

It can be defined as a state of happiness and satisfaction. It's a state of being pleased with what one has. Contentment is an act of being satisfied with who you are, what you are and where you are in life. It is appreciating and respecting your reality, irrespective of what it may be, with an expectation of a brighter tomorrow.

It is not the fulfilment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.

Contentment, however, does not imply Complacency.

Complacency is the satisfaction a person derives from his present position even when seeing the need to improve but refuses to make an attempt. It is synonymous to laziness and should not be indulged in as it hinders people from making use of their potentials to the fullest. Contentment is a step towards fulfillment.

Importance Of Contentment.

The importance of contentment is numerous and cannot be over emphasized. This is because contentment affects our mindsets, the kind of decisions we make and consequently the life we end of living. It includes the following:

1. Peace of mind: The best feeling anyone can have is peace of mind and this is what a content person stands to gain. When you are content, you are at peace with yourself, your environment and the pace at which you are growing which ultimately aids in self-development and positivity.

2. Happiness: Contentment promotes happiness. When you are contented, you start seeing reasons to be happy. You might not be at the place you presently want to be in, but you are taking a step everyday towards the fulfillment of your dreams. As much as we all wish to achieve our goals, it's also important for us to take time to appreciate ourselves and our "little wins". We are sometimes too hard on ourselves and want things to happen for us instantly. This, therefore, could make those "little wins" seem inconsequential to us, but we forget to realize that those "little wins" were once difficult and unachievable to us. Respect your pace and your process.

3. It Removes Jealousy: There is a famous saying about jealousy- The only soul you are poisoning is your own. It's funny how this works because of its self-inflicting effects. It's the quickest way to inflict pain, bitterness and resentment. We are bound to come across people who are more attractive, intelligent and better than us and it's very okay to admire them, but we must ensure that it stops at that. If there is something positive that you admire in someone, then inculcate it. There is no gain in being jealous, it only creates a monster that no one wants to be around.

4. Simplicity: When Jealousy is gone, all that's left is you, just the way you are. Contentment helps you prioritize more on your needs than your wants. It helps you see you for yourself, this way, you become your own judge. You discover your strengths and weaknesses and find lasting solutions. You start to care less of what others think of you. Contentment encourages simplicity. simplicity encourages happiness- happiness is not gotten from our possessions but rather from within us.

5. It also helps in relationships: It's a good thing you want to change that gruesome attitude in that guy, but it is also important you know that it is only a person who has a problem that knows that he has it. Even at that, he may just decide not to change. The bottom line is- his decision to change will only come out of his own volition and no one else's. It's best we start accepting things and people for who they are, and not dwelling on how we want them to be. It helps us keep a positive attitude towards difficult situations and not letting our unfulfilled expectations of people cause us inner pain. It's okay to give an advice but we must learn not to force our will on people.

The Secret of Contentment

The secret of contentment is casting all your cares on him and placing all your confidence on him.

Elisabeth Elliot

In all honesty, it is impossible to live without being discontent, especially in the kind of world we find ourselves. We all in one way or another have something we want to change, something we aren't satisfied about. True contentment is only found in God. Paul, while in prison in the book of Philippians was content because he knew that God was with him no matter what and that he would provide for him. This is the same level of faith and more that God wants us to have in him. He is willing and able to provide all we want only if we come to him.

supernatural contentment in every circumstance, whether horrible or happy; this is what God offers.

john piper