CONTENTMENT IS A GREAT VIRTUE

 

 

Often times I quote “there’s an extra fighting spirit in every man destined to be great”.

See, satisfaction is one big deal that is hard to come by. Hmm…of in any way you disagree, remember the economics theory — human wants is insatiable.

Let’s reason together… we can best describe politicians as gluttons who never understand what it means — TO BE ENOUGH even when the belly is full.

It’s certain that the end of a glutton is bound to be disastrous and trapped… as I recall the story of the “fat King” — Reginald who was dethroned and imprisoned in the castle of Nijenbeek by his brother Edward. Although not suffered while in cell, instead was served Royal meals as requested… but with time after much pleading on his behalf to be released, King Edward responded… “I released my brother long time ago… it’s just that his lust for food as made him grow bigger and fatter that he can’t get out of the small cell gate made as exit” … “Fat Reginald” imprisoned himself through uncontrollable lust for food.

Hence, CONTENT is a virtue, and not all men possess it as a gift. While some by nature find satisfaction in whatever condition they find themselves, some others like “Oliver Twist” will always ask for more.

However, it’s profitable to understand that — majority have been conditioned to often feel or think it’s seldom to find one who has mastered the art of being content in all things.

One is even allowed to think those with contentment are rather too weak, lazy and handicapped to explore or take risk in life.

But do you know…the human mind is designed with flexibility, in that it has the capacity to stretch beyond physical boundaries into the superficial, thereby making the body operate subconsciously in an imaginary environment…

That is why you DREAM…be it day or night, big or small… However, your mind serves as the projector between your present experience and the unseen interface.

Basically, people find comfort doing what they love, and in doing what they love… by default they live in content. Living as though everything is fine even if there are hiccups, since the love of what they do brings value to them and immediate environment…they are successful! That’s a feeling.

In tandem, talk of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg — Microsoft and Facebook respectively, both billionaire geeks live in the comfort of doings –doing what they love. And without doubt the company will continue to exist as long as Bill Gates remains content with the brand — Microsoft, same goes with Facebook — will remain relevant as long as Mark stick with the “community” purpose of creating the social media platform… little wonder he’s even swallowing other social media platforms whose original owners couldn’t find content in anymore.

At this point, be careful not to mistaken comfort for content — as it’s very unlikely to find comfort when you’re not contented with what you do.

I’ll advise you to read that value again!

In local parlance we say… “this life no balance” but in ‘thesis’, this life balance for those who understand and have skillfully applied the tool of “conformity” — those who have mastered the art of finding a place of pseudo (comfort) in their content.

Subsequently, when faced with challenges, one quickly applies this tool of — “CONFORMITY”, that is…coming to terms with the present situation, accepting ones capability and easing desperation. Which in turn help one to keep calm, collected and calculative when things seem to be rough and crazy?

Hence, it’s only when one has mastered the art of contentment that you can have the capacity to THINK on WHAT’S NEXT even in the face of challenges.

It is true that FEAR fears no man, except men who are CONTENT in life.

On this note, I shall be sharing with you 3 most important principles on how to be content.

 

1.    SELF RECOGNITION:

In most cases, what we lack is honesty — as the human mind is formed to be so biased and sentimental that it becomes very difficult to have an honest evaluation on you –revealing who you really are.

At every moment you see yourself as a superhuman with no fault; I can bet you’re flying to the land of destruction.

I recall my days in secondary school, the first time I watched a man without limbs living happily and comfortably — Pastor Nick Vujicic, a renowned public speaker turned gospel evangelist — who discovered his CAPABILITY in a “disabled” circumstance… therein refused to live an imaginary cum denial lifestyle of having what he doesn’t and cannot have.

He’s forever thankful to his school janitor who helped him come to the full knowledge of himself and was able to find contentment in what “we” call disability.

Honestly, it takes a lot of courage to look in the mirror and pep yourself with words like: “I know I’ve got no limbs; I know I can’t walk properly; I know I can’t be like the neighbor next door who thinks himself as complete.”

But! In this divine situation… WHAT CAN I DO? WHY AM I HERE? are the questions bugging a sincere mind.

Boom! The moment you’re able to define and redefine this question… What looks like a problem is half solved…as you now know yourself and your capability.

Thence, you are bound to work according to your strength, having a better understanding of what it means to do your best and live the rest… finding comfort and establishing self-love — you’ll begin to experience on a daily basis a beautiful lifestyle…doing things in your capability with the right surge to do more, as no one's accomplishments will influence negatively rather positively because you’ve come to understand that — YOUR FIGHT IS DIFFERENT!

You’ll know your onions and know what to spice it with.

At this point, the lumber of self-realization gathered shall open your eyes to see the misinterpretation of what the ‘world’ calls disability or weak to be UNIQUE and DYNAMIC in reality.

 

2.    

    ACCEPTANCE:

You’ll ask, what as acceptance got to do with having content? Is accepting all things isn’t even a sign of weakness?

Well, that’s why you need to keep reading.

Immediately you’re born, your parents must (a must) first ACCEPT the ‘truth’ of your gender be it male or female and even if by science or unforeseen circumstance you’re both — they must still ACCEPT the truth of your gender before tendering and nurturing begins.

However, after they must have agreed to whatever “specie” born… it now takes a level of responsibility to find “content” in tendering “you” in the good, bad and ugly days.

Another word in local parlance says “monkey no fine imm mama like am”. Which means however bad the situation of a child might be, the parents have “accepted” to take full responsibility to carry the cross to Golgotha.

So, in process, you are bound to find a place in accepting yourself for who you are before you can find balance in this “content” journey.

Take Note — accepting your “defaults” is not a form of weakness as the world preaches. Rather, the word weakness is an abstract and only exists in the mind.

No one is born weak so far, every man has a functioning mind… Weakness exist in the life of those whose mind has been conformed to deformity — in that the mind is tuned to accept weakness as a tool to paralyze the WHO in YOU!

For example, there are two major mindsets in the Northern part of Nigeria. The first one agrees to the assertion that marabouts exist in the North, and most northerners in this part of the world are born handicaps turn beggars who are bred to depend on others for survival. It’s no fluke that this has hampered development in the North for many years till date and its no surprise they even train upcoming ones through their begging firm.

Mind you, the elites in the same North have a different mindset totally, on their path — they believe they are BORN TO RULE! So they don’t joke with political power. They believe the power center originates from the North and must remain in the North…so dem go die there.

Subsequently, the poor amongst them has been poisoned with a “make believe” that — begging is a calling to survival and nothing more. Which interestingly turns out that their mind has been conditioned to think themselves as good citizens to slave for the masters whom “Allah” has ordained to be blessed. Hence, it is almost impossible for a man from a poor background to rise in the North…and if by chance it happens, it means a camel must have just passed through the eye of a needle.

In clear terms, for you to apply the principle of ACCEPTANCE, it means you must have first come to the knowledge of WHO YOU REALLY ARE. Meaning, a thorough evaluation must have been carried out, a finite definition must have been arrived at… thence you can accept the WHO in you. So doing, you won’t wrongfully accept your fears like most Northerners as cited above, instead you’ll accept your strength and abilities — wherein you find CONTENT.

 

3.    LOVE PRINCIPLE:

I speak the concept of love here, not as it was between Romeo and Juliet, but love as replicated by Williams Shakespeare — the writer of Romeo and Juliet story… who so much loves what he does to the point of writing over 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and a good number of poems, although there are a number of “lost plays” and plays that Shakespeare collaborated on. Meaning, Shakespeare wrote an average of 1.5 plays a year since he first started writing in 1589.

More stats from Oxford Dictionary of Quotations revealed this icon wrote close to a tenth of the most quoted lines ever written or spoken in English. Wondering what’s more? Well, according to Literature Encyclopedia, Shakespeare is the second most quoted English writer after the writers of the Bible.

Wow! I’ve just decided to give you a few statistics of a man who died way back 23^rd of April 1616. Although died centuries ago, yet remain relevant till tomorrow. The reality behind William Shakespeare’s relevance till date is the LOVE he reserved for his works… oh! I didn’t tell you, none of his writings (works) was published until after his death. He found satisfaction —in other word— CONTENT in what he does, in that when the plague disrupted his play performance in the theatres, Shakespeare switched to writing poems and sonnets.

Take a pause here, as I want you to recollect the principles of “conformity” which keeps you calm, collected and calculative in the face of challenge. If you can relate, you’ll discover whether consciously or unconsciously… William Shakespeare applied same principle during the plague challenge, which helped him channel his strength to start writing more poems and sonnets while the plague was on, instead of brooding on the unfortunate problem. Interestingly, he also accepted the challenge. Hence, there was a satisfactory solution…as he was able to maneuver the present challenge for his good. You know why?... He is CONTENT at what he does through the love he has for it.

Same way, I can also say…I’ve found content in what I do, not minding my skipped dinner as I presently write this piece.

My message to you, digesting this piece also is to LOVE yourself and LOVE what you do. Only then, you can be CONTENT and find satisfaction in all you do.

As my ink fades, I will draw the curtain with the quote of an ancient Apostle of Christ, named — Paul, who confessed in one of his letters to the Philippians… saying —

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be CONTENT whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12 NIV.

In view of the above statement, take into cognizance to live as though limited but not at the mercy or at the expense of anything or anyone to control, dictate and manipulate how you should live.

Pattern your life like this “Apostle” who finds CONTENT in any and every situation because of the LOVE he has for his calling.

Selah!