Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Cultivate Positive Thinking
• Method 2 of 3: Interact with other people
• Method 3 of 3: Be unpretentious
• Tips

In a world where the words "more" and "better" are so often emphasized, it is difficult to be content with what is. We are under a lot of pressure to have perfect relationships, the most expensive things and an orderly life. However, there are so many things in your unique day to day that you should be grateful for. To be content with what you have at the moment, develop positive thinking, interact with other people, and be unpretentious.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Cultivate Positive Thinking

1. 1 Practice daily gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal every day so that you are consistently aware of all the wonderful things in your life. Whether you write a full page or just a sentence a day, this activity will help you feel fulfilled by shedding light on all the positive aspects of your life.
   • Try writing one thing for each letter of the alphabet (a through z) that you are grateful for.
   • If you want to express gratitude to other people, write them notes with warm words.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Chloe Carmichael, PhD

   
   
   Licensed Clinical Psychologist Chloe Carmichael, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in New York City. He has over 10 years of experience in psychological counseling, specializing in relationship problems, stress management, self-esteem work and career coaching. She also taught courses at Long Island University and worked as a freelance faculty member at the City University of New York. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and completed clinical practice at Lenox Hill and Kings County Hospitals. Accredited by the American Psychological Association and is the author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety.

   Chloe Carmichael, PhD
   Licensed Clinical Psychologist

   Practicing gratitude should not be a substitute for problem solving... Dr. Chloe Carmichael, a licensed clinical psychologist, says: “While the practice of gratitude can be very rewarding, never forget to focus on the issues that deserve your attention. For example, if you are in a relationship with someone who is constantly cheating on you, and you want to resolve this issue by focusing only on the positive qualities of your partner, then this will be denying the problem, and this is counterproductive. "

   
   
2. 2 Get ready to change. Those who change at least one of their points of view or behavior every few months are more likely to look to the future with hope and positiveness than those who do not. These people usually claim to be in good spirits most of the time. Keep in mind that you cannot progress without changing, and try to approach life changes with open arms so that you feel more satisfied overall.
   • For example, you find that you sometimes interrupt people by accident. If so, make a conscious effort to change this behavior.
   • For example, let's say you decide to change your political stance on taxes after hearing a few strong arguments that you haven't thought about before.
3. 3 Look at things from a different perspective. By trying to look at seemingly negative situations in a positive light, you can change your thought processes over time. This will likely help you feel more fulfilled because you will notice positive things in people, events, and situations in your life.
   • Let's say you lost a job that didn't bring you satisfaction. Her loss is a gift of fate in disguise, because now you can follow your true passion.
4. 4 Recognize that more is not better. Think of the rich people you know and those who are not so fortunate. There are many people on our planet who are deprived of what you have, but who still manage to have a positive outlook on life. There are also many people who are endowed with many benefits, but who are dissatisfied with life. Keep this in mind if you think you need more things to be happy.

Method 2 of 3: Interact with other people

1. 1 Invest in friendship. Research has shown that having multiple close friends significantly increases people's optimism and life satisfaction. Connect with friends often and suggest ways to spend time together. Make a conscious effort to prioritize spending time with friends. The closeness that comes from investing in friendship will provide you with support and a positive experience.
2. 2 Accept loved ones as they are. Perhaps you want your spouse to be more organized, or your child to be more athletic. Try not to get too hung up on what you want to change in the people you love.This can cause tension and dissatisfaction in the relationship. It is better to accept loved ones as they are.
3. 3 Don't compare yourself to others. Most of the people you come into contact with are on a different path or at a different stage in life than you. Try to rejoice in other people's happiness, achievements and success, and not compare them with your own. This will make you less greedy and jealous, and more peace of mind.
4. 4 Keep in mind that people are often silent about the negativity on social media. Scrolling through all these happy faces and fun adventures on VK, Instagram and other social networks, you can easily start to envy. Try to remember that everyone goes through both positive and negative moments, even if you only see the beautiful side of their life on social media.
5. 5 Help others voluntarily. Helping other people can boost your morale and empower you with a sense of your own worth. If you work hard day after day, it can be difficult for you to understand the meaning of everything you do. Volunteering for those in need often makes the effort more obvious. This sense of importance will give you more satisfaction in life.
   • For example, you may feel a sense of your own worth when you volunteer to work in a homeless cafeteria. Your contribution is obvious here: you feed those who are hungry and who have no food.

Method 3 of 3: Be unpretentious

1. 1 Include intangible joys in your life. First, make a list of all the things you love that don't require any cash investment. Return to this list often and try to add one or more things every day.
   • The list might include: love, laughter, faith, family, long walks, nature, and more.
2. 2 Buy what you need, not what you want. Financial difficulties often lead to a miserable life. While it's not easy to get into a position where money isn't an issue at all, you can relieve stress by living within your means. Rather than just buying whatever you want, consider each purchase and basically only buy what you need for a comfortable life.
   • If your friend just bought a new iPhone and you really like it, take a look at their phone. If it functions normally, there is no need to buy a new one. If your phone is malfunctioning, find out what affordable and reliable models are currently on the market.
3. 3 Enjoy what you have. Instead of focusing on everything you don't have, try to focus on everything you have. If you often want more than you have, you may never feel satisfied, because there are so many awesome, expensive things in the world that you will most likely never be able to buy them all. Try to enjoy the things you already own and use.
   • If you're upset because you can't afford a fun video game that just came out, play the games you already own. You bought them for a reason, and you can enjoy them too.

Tips

• Keep in mind that you have no power over yesterday's and tomorrow's actions. All you can do is focus and improve the quality of the present, which in turn will improve the quality of your future.
• Spread acts of kindness, however insignificant they may seem to you.