To be content with little is difficult; to be content with much, impossible. German proverb

In Buddhism, contentment is freedom from anxiety, want or need. It is the pinnacle of all goals, as once achieved there is nothing to seek until it is lost; in fact many religions have some form of eternal bliss or heavenly state as their ultimate goal.

There should also be no contradiction between contentment and ambition. Many people are, in fact, goal-orientated. They continally set themselves goals and targets throughout their lifetime and once one goal has been achieved they are likely to look for new goals.

The setting of such goals does not mean that people are discontent with their lives. It may, in fact, mean just the opposite. People can still set themselves goals and be content with their lives and be content with who they are, which may well be someone who enjoys the challenge of striving to attain a goal.

One word of caution to this, however, is that although the two go hand in hand, ambition and contentment can cause conflict when goals are set unrealistically high and may mean lack of ambition if set too low or not set at all.

Ultimately human beings can only be guided by their own internal emotions as to whether they are content or on the path to contentment. Typical emotions are feelings of happiness or sorrow, satisfaction or anger, anxiety or euphoria. Such emotions are either positive or negative, and it is the positive emotions that show whether or not you are on the right path to a contented lifestyle. Although it is also important to set realistic goals, contentment also means enjoying what you are doing right now, and we can only be happy at this particular moment in time or because of past memories. By enjoying the present and by planning and preparing for the future we can create a better future. Being content also means having the flexibility to realize that we sometimes have to modify our beliefs and the way we do things, and to set new goals.

Positive keywords

happiness, inner peace, relaxed, fulfilled, light-hearted, vigorous, loving, dynamic, thoughtful, satisfied.

Negative keywords

frustrated, despondent, exasperated, disappointed, angry, tense, impetuous, insecure.

The setting of such goals does not mean that people are discontent with their lives. It may, in fact, mean just the opposite.

People can still set themselves goals and be content with their lives and be content with who they are, which may well be someone who enjoys the challenge of striving to attain a goal.

One word of caution to this, however, is that although the two go hand in hand, ambition and contentment can cause conflict when goals are set unrealistically high and may mean lack of ambition if set too low or not set at all.

Ultimately human beings can only be guided by their own internal emotions as to whether they are content or on the path to contentment. Typical emotions are feelings of happiness or sorrow, satisfaction or anger, anxiety or euphoria. Such emotions are either positive or negative, and it is the positive emotions that show whether or not you are on the right path to a contented lifestyle.

Although it is also important to set realistic goals, contentment also means enjoying what you are doing right now, and we can only be happy at this particular moment in time or because of past memories. By enjoying the present and by planning and preparing for the future we can create a better future.

Being content also means having the flexibility to realize that we sometimes have to modify our beliefs and the way we do things, and to set new goals.