And so starts my blog that explores the universal quest for contentment in life, which I feels is probably the most sought after feeling that human beings strive for.
My 1st post will outline my ideas, thoughts and beliefs in regard to this philosophy. And although this may unknowingly duplicated another philosophy, of which I apologize in advance, I think my course of study may not only lead in different directions but also possibly unearth new ideas and strategies.
It has been my belief that life contentment is ultimately the pinnacle of happiness and comfort. Contentment is not only achieving balance in life, but more importantly complete satisfaction with one’s position within their social and environmental surroundings.
Mankind has through the years evolved all types of specific doctrines to follow to achieve this balance, most notably religion. Why? Because contentment is such an abstract idea, being notable only through a broad, wide-sweeping analysis of ones’s life. It’s an idea that is difficult to narrow to day to day activities, often times being lost in the preoccupations, worries, stresses and diversions of everyday life. But it is a structure of extreme enormity that is built from tiny building blocks, one day at a time.
Nature, buy itself, is a degenerating entity, and will slowly fall to decay if left unmaintained. This, too, applies to the human spirit if left unchecked. Therefore the process of achieving and maintaining contentment must be established through routines, daily, weekly and monthly practices that require discipline and commitment to adhere to.
It is when we fail to follow proper maintenance that our spirit fades, and contentment dies. Commitment and discipline are therefore the essential ingredients in maintaining our course of actions throughout our life. It is not a goal to achieve, rather a lifestyle to live by. It is not the destination, but the journey that fulfills contentment. The road, however, is often broken and confusing, and one can become easily lost or diverted.
Discipline and commitment are two traits that for most people are the most difficult to keep throughout their lifetime. They are the opposite forces of nature, and in some ways unnatural. They fight the normal order of life progression, bucking the natural tendency to follow the path of least resistance, allowing erosion of mind, body and spirit. We are trying to build a mountain of contentment, one shovel scoop at a time, while constantly fighting the eroding rains that inevitably falls upon us. It’s hard work, and the rewards can often seem unattainable, but they are there, and worth fighting for.
Religion has historically been the main course of belief and action for many people on their course of life contentment. It has many advantages, offering promises both now and after death, group support from other like-minded people, and frequent routines to maintain focus and commitment. It is truly a kind of “mass-therapy” offering support to millions of people in all stages of contentment fulfillment. And for many people, this is sufficient.
Unfortunately, its promises are based on ideology and beliefs that cannot be established through conventional rational sources. It’s validity can therefore often come under scrutiny, and it’s methods and requirements frequently become sources of questionable practices and even intolerable actions. Additionally, for those who require provable sources with logical explanations religion falls terribly short. Although the majority of people will and do accept unproven doctrines when supported by their peers, for a growing number of people this isn’t acceptable. We live in a world of ever increasing deceit and questionable practices, and more and more people are becoming skeptical of unproven doctrines. Religion requires blind faith, but many people now choose to see.
These people, however, are left without the communal support and established practices often needed to maintain the necessary commitment required to achieve contentment.
