Contentment is a powerful force that exists inside the mental landscape of your brain. Your level of contentment will shape your relationship with life. If you are content, you will be happy. If you are discontent, you will be unhappy and unfulfilled. The simple trick to feel wealthier about your life, is to go on an adventure to change your mind, and find ways to become content with the life you have. This is how to be content:
A grateful person will never run out of the feelings that make him feel wealthy. An ungrateful person will spend their entire life feeling empty no matter how much money they have.
Contentment. It’s such a powerful ideological force inside your mind. Contentment can make one experience the full extremes of feelings in life. A high level of contentment can make a person feel like they have everything they’ve ever dreamed of in life, whereas a low level of contentment can make them feel like their life has been a failure. The dictionary defines “being content” as: “In a state of Peaceful Happiness and Satisfaction.”
I truly believe that wealth is NOT just defined by the dollar amounts in your bank account. Wealth is determined by the clarity and profundity of the thoughts in our mind.
“Money unlocks the first stage of wealth. Contentment unlocks the Second stage.”
Saving and investing money is how you unlock the first stage of wealth. Finding contentment and pursuing you’re your purpose in life, is how you unlock the second stage of wealth. So if you want to be supremely wealthy, do more than just chase, collect, and count money. Pursue contentedness equally.
After writing last week’s post on spirituality, I started thinking deeply about the concept of contentment and how it relates to my personal journey to create wealth after a reader made this comment:
“It blows my mind that you don’t do a monthly budget! You and your wife must be very content to be able to do that. I think contentment is where wealth accumulation can begin… And God plays big role in finding contentment. “
Bam! The comment made the sound of a baseball bat hitting a home run in my brain. It made me realize that when you are content with what you have in life, you don’t need a lot of money or stuff to cloud the simple things that are already making you happy. When you already have everything you want and need, there is nothing left to do but live the life you’ve built in a state of peaceful happiness.
There are thousands of blogs on the web about how to become financially successful. But this blog, Wealth Well Done, is different. We like to talk about money here, but we talk about how to create powerful mind just as much. Why? Because your mind is the most powerful tool you will ever possess. Money’s purpose is to buy you the things that make you happy. Your mind’s purpose is to build the life you dream of living. Combine money and your mind together to create wealth.
How to Be Content and Wealthy: Step #1: Dream Again.
The first step to being content, is to learn how to dream again. Dream about goals. Envision big achievements. Be audacious and courageous enough to believe you are capable of living an extraordinary life. Open your mind to see possibilities beyond your daily tasks and routines. Start dreaming that massive achievements are possible for you.
Once you start seeing the dreams God is inspiring in your soul, then do something about them. Work on improving yourself to become a warrior on a mission to achieve your dreams. Fiercely apply action to the dreams you find. That is when life gets really exciting and fun.
For example, I dream of one-day having millions of views on this blog. I dream of helping thousands of people with the stories I write. That’s the vision that keeps me writing when I am tired, frustrated, and want to give up. But I DON’T give up because I BELIEVE my dreams are possible. I can taste that my dreams are real. It’s awesome glimpses that my dreams are possible, (like the below emails from a readers of this blog) that keep me working when I get frustrated and want to give up.
“Wow. Just, wow. I’m floored by this blog. I struggle with different things that keep me away from God. Ironically it’s my job that pays extremely well that is my stumbling block. The stress causes me to react less than godly, so much that I feel God is ashamed of me. So I hide my face from him. Forgetting that it’s for wretched people like me who He came for. My upbringing as a tough guy in Brooklyn doesn’t help my instinct to hit first and ask questions later. Anyway, I love the concept of involving God in all financial decisions. I will be implementing it. Keep up the good work.”
I don’t have millions of readers yet, but that’s Ok, because I have these readers. They are showing me that I am on the right track. To become content and wealthy beyond belief, don’t worry about changing the world all at once. Just do a little at a time, and let the little things — done consistently, over long periods of time — add up to big things that can change the world as you live your unique life.
How to be Content and Wealthy: Step #2: Find out what you love. Do that.
The best and simplest way to feel content in life is to spend as much time as you can doing the things you love. Doing what you love makes you feel inspired and energized. It will make you feel like you are doing more than just existing. Doing what you love makes you feel like you are on an adventure to accomplish your purpose in life.
After all, what is the value of a million dollars if it’s held in the pocket of a person who is miserable living their life? Nothing. Wealthy people know that money has no value if it’s not helping you become happier than you already are. Having a healthy relationship with money means that you are using it on things and experiences that make you happier, and not stressed and anxious by the bills you have, or how much you have in your bank account.
Now, I am a realist, so I am not advising you to quit your job tomorrow so you can start doing what you love without a supply line of incoming cash. That’s often too big of a risk to take. But I am advising you to start spending as much of your free-time doing the things you love, and make you healthier and happier, as those are the things that will help guide you to where you are supposed to be.
You will never know where your favorite things may lead you. As you get better at your passions, and more efficient with your time, you just may become an expert in your field. It may take years, but eventually you may find yourself doing the things you love all day, every day, and the journey begins with you just doing the things you love a little at a time today.
How to Be Content and Wealthy: Step 3: Prioritize Your Mental Health.
To become content and wealthy beyond belief, always, always, always, make your mental health as your first priority. Wealthy value their money, but they value their ability to think, love, and learn even more so.
Supremely wealthy people never sacrifice the clarity of their minds, for another dollar in their pockets.
Wealthy and content people always prioritize their mental health first, because they know they won’t need a lot of money if they’re already happy with themselves. Wealthy people have a positive attitude and relationship with life. It’s impossible to do this with a sick mind. I saw this cool, Suze Orman quote recently which illustrated how important having a healthy mindset with money really is:
“Your mind is the most powerful tool you have and you must make it believe that you make less than you do so that you will naturally spend less. Your mind believes that if you bring home a monthly paycheck of $3,000, then you have $3,000 to spend. And you’ll spend it, all of it. If you get a raise and start bringing home $4,000 a month, you’ll spend all of that, too, and wonder how on earth you managed on less. But if you start bringing home $3,500 a month, your mind will adjust to it, and you’ll naturally spend less. The way to do it is to just put it away before you ever see it. You won’t be depriving yourself. You’ll be paying yourself. You’ll be on your own payroll and soon be able to enjoy two of life’s great pleasures: counting your money as it grows and dreaming of how you’ll spend it when the time comes.”
How to Be Content and Wealthy: Step #4: Strive to Do The Right Thing.
Content people reach a state of happiness and peace, because they always strive to do the right things with their life. They gain satisfaction from making the right decisions. They look to do more than just succeed once or twice, or a whim. They look to succeed consistently, and practice and train to always become a better human being with every-day effort. They strive for more than money. They strive to become great human beings who consistently make great decisions. They know that making great decisions, and always trying to do the right things, are the actions that will naturally lead them to wealth. Wealth is created when one does the right things, and makes great decisions, over and over again.
To find what the right things are for you, go on an adventure to discover what your “right things” are. Try, help, learn, and always standing back up and try again even when you fail. Save your money so you can take risks. Spend your money so that you can learn and grow. Make a positive difference along your way. Be grateful for everything, and you will learn to be content in everything you do.
How to Be Content and Wealthy: Step #5: Reject Consumerism. Embrace Creationism.
Creators change things, and make things better. They are constantly doing the things listed in the above step: trying, improving, learning and growing. Their minds are clear and active. They are often happiest with the littlest things.
Consumers are dependent on others for their entertainment and stimulation. They are often at the mercy of other people’s timelines and activities. They are forced to wait, and waste time, and become bored, and these things often lead to laziness. Laziness is often the trait that kills ones abilities to be content, happy, and wealthy.
Creators don’t just accept the life and fate they were born into. They don’t just accept the feelings they experience when they wake up. If they don’t like their environment, they work to change it. They work to customize their reality to their liking. If they don’t like their feelings, they find new ideas, to change their routines, and create new and healthier feelings as a result.
If you want to be content and wealthy, become a creator. Don’t just accept the life you were born into, and mindlessly consume the lot in life you were given. Evolve into a creator. Work at changing your reality, into a life you enjoy living. Create the thought and feelings inside of yourself that you want to experience.
In conclusion, I think the equation of contentedness looks something like this: Contentedness = God inspired dreams + Your action to accomplish those dreams.
That, I believe, is the essence of contentedness right there. What do you think? What makes you feel more contentment? Do you think the ideological force of contentment is one of the most important ingredients to create wealth?
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A nice list, very well thought out. There is a lot of good scientific literature on wealth and happiness from actual scientists. I’ve posted a few on the topic. Check it out if you get a chance. Might be something you’re interested in. I know that for me, having science behind my thoughts is what motivates me to really change.
Hey @goodlifemd! I think your scientific thoughts could add some good value to this post for the people who are looking for such information. Can you add a couple of your favorite links below in the comments? I think these could he helpful for people who want to read more about those research-based subjects. Personally, I comprehend feelings the best, so the revelations and insights I experience from feelings is what I primarily write about. But I enjoy scientific research too, so I’d be grateful for a few links to your scientific content if it helps support the message in this post. Thanks!
Completely agree – contentment is key. It’s a focus and a discipline to practice. We’ve found that practicing thankfulness really increases contentment. (And once again, great visiting with you at FinCon!)