21/05/2018 – I have missed you all

I have missed you all……

Hi,

The Sheep in Solitude is back :-) So much has been going on since my last blog; Church (The Seed) Cycling, Decorating, Walking, Travel, Work, and of course my family and friends……….

Recently I was asked “Do you get jealous?” in the context of being jealous of other people, the way they are treated, the things they have, houses they live in, money, wealth that some enjoy etc. I am a very content person, more so in the last 3 years. I like my life, I love my life, I work hard, and I love the freedom that I have being a “sheep in solitude” I don’t think that is being selfish, more a positive attitude. I am not jealous of others, some that work hard for it and some that get it handed to them as a right of birth, we cannot live our lives wishing what others have, be it emotional, physical, tangible or a lifestyle. I am not saying its wrong to be jealous, its just not me. “How can you be so content?” I was asked. That’s an easy answer; I have true love in my life, I have my family, 3 beautiful grandchildren, a daughter who has only ever bought me joy and happiness and a Son in Law who works very hard, is a brilliant Dad, a wonderful husband and provides a loving home environment for the family. I have a job that I love, even though the hours are long the rewards are good and allow me to provide for myself, and my friends, and my daughter and family. I travel far and wide and enjoy life to the full ……… “Could you be happier?” There are some things that would make me very much happier, but at the moment I am happy and content to wait :-) ……………… God’s Grace.

I am very grateful for this quote, thank you …………… “Happy with what I have, with a thankful heart”   

Another quote:Â “A combination of a sense of wellbeing and happiness, no worries or concerns and a spoonful of pleasure that comes from doing something you really enjoy”

Another quote:Â “Being happy with yourself”

There is no doubt that contentment comes from within :-)

Job 36: 1-11

Elihu continued: Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. Be assured my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. God is almighty, and firm in his purpose. He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. But if people are bound in chains, held fast by chords of affliction, he tells them what they have done – they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

Job 36: 26

How great is God- beyond our understanding!

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Wikipedia: Contentment is a mental or emotional state of satisfaction maybe drawn from being at ease in one’s own situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking contentment could be a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a milder more tentative form of happiness

Contentment and the pursuit of contentment are possibly a central thread through many philosophical or religious schools across diverse cultures, times and geographies. Siddharta might have said “Health is the most precious gain and contentment the greatest wealth”. John Stuart Mill, centuries later, would write “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.” Marcus Aurelius wrote “Live with the gods. And he who does so constantly shows them that his soul is satisfied with what is assigned to them.” Hebrews 13:5 reads “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”[2] Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou once wrote in the 3rd century BCE (hypothetically) “A gentleman who profoundly penetrates all things and is in harmony with their transformations will be contented with whatever time may bring. He follows the course of nature in whatever situation he may be.”[3]
The literature seems to generally agree that contentment is maybe a state ideally reached through being happy with what a person has, as opposed to achieving one’s larger ambitions, as Socrates described by probably saying “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” That said, there may be a number of elements of achievement that may make finding a state of personal contentment easier: a strong family unit, a strong local community, and satisfaction of life’s basic needs as perhaps expressed in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In general, the more needs in Maslow’s hierarchy are achieved, the more easily one might achieve contentment.