I was surfing through Twitter when an interesting Arabic quote caught my eyes, which translates into, "Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure."
This quote brings me two years back when I was having a profound conversation with a cousin of mine on my family couch, sipping tea and eating my mother's delicate lemon cake. I remember how I told her that I realized how being content with my life bought me so much happiness with time. And by happiness, I meant peace, bliss, and appreciation. Paula Rollo once said, "Contentment does not mean that I desire nothing but rather, it's the simple decision to be happy with what I have."
My mother once lifted her hand before my face and said that all of our fingers are unalike, from the smallest to the tallest and the thinnest to the fattest. And she goes, people are like those fingers, no ones alike, and so does their lives. Yet, with access to social media, we see daily round-the-clock glamorizing stories and posts of individuals traveling to the most divine whereabouts on earth, pick mouth-watering feasts at restaurants, or arrange elite social occasions that you probably can't afford. That doesn't only make you question how bad you want this, but why can't you have this as well.
And the latter question becomes your most damaging torment, triggering a series of unfortunate questions, which create issues revolving around how you have a regrettable life. But, of course, it's insane.
Indeed, avoiding social media is not the choice because you'll always hear from someone or personally see someone who had done something so luxurious and wonderous, seemingly ten times better than what you've done. And it forces you to think, "Ugh! I hate my life."
Why do we find it so easy to directly identify our life as detestable and tasteless when you might be living a life thousand of individuals have urged for it and constantly dreamt about it. Contentment is the greatest form of wealth, being rich in the state of mind.
We spend our lives demanding costly pleasures. So we began normalizing the most basic life funds: a solid marriage, a devoted family, a stable job, faithful friends, a reliable income, a good education, a healthy body, and a safe household. (and the list goes on)
Before wounding yourself with unnecessary questions of why you can't afford this or why your life is not like what is represented behind digital screens, start seeding your blessings and notice the things you already hold that you are grateful for. Build up an attitude that says I will be satisfied with what God has given me and own it because those who know that enough is enough will always have enough.