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mushbaby
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On being content
#8025949 - 02/15/08 05:38 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Is it better to accept where you are in your life and who you are or to always strive for more, to constantly challenge yourself to improve?
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8025951 - 02/15/08 05:42 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I don't see any contradiction between those two. Why should the first exclude the second? I think that when those two are mixed the chances for happiness grow considerably.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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mushbaby
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Yes but so many of us tend to go to extremes one way or the other.
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MushroomTrip
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8025982 - 02/15/08 06:08 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Being happy about your current situation implies an increased awareness and understanding regarding life. As an effect of that we are more able to see the domains and manners in which our lives can be improved, without having to give up our constant and present state of well being. When we think that we have to choose one over the other or going to extremes, this is not because we have a better understanding of life, but because we're caught up in adhering to one doctrine over the other. It's just mechanical stuff.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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mushbaby
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Ok, but being happy and being content aren't necessarily the same thing. Being content is more (to me at least) about being happy with things exactly the way they are.
Kind of like a cow chewing it's cud. Just standing there enjoying themselves and not thinking any improvements could make things better.
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MushroomTrip
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8025996 - 02/15/08 06:20 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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No, for me it means feeling good about your current condition which IMPLIES the act of becoming aware about what can be improved into your life.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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mushbaby
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sighs
Oh to have your balance MT.
I am an imperfect creature. I seem unable to ever be happy in my current situation. I can be ok with it and see that it's not such a bad place to be , but am never satisfied with it.
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Ferris
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026008 - 02/15/08 06:40 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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The way I see it is that life moves in cycles. When the time is ripe, you push forward and make as many strides as you can. Then you follow that with a recharging period where you accept the status quo and mantain your acheivements by keeping any backtracking to a minumum.
So my answer simply put is both.
Of course everyone works differently.
-------------------- Discuss Politics
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MushroomTrip
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby] 1
#8026009 - 02/15/08 06:41 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Balance is something we learn. Maybe we're born with it maybe not. But the world we grow up in marks our minds in many negative ways and by the time we grow up we already have so many self destructive tendencies. I think that none of us are spared of this programming, it's all over the place and what's more alarming is that we're not even aware of how toxic this thinking is for our minds, we just do what we see around as kids. It takes a lot of time to realize what it does and how it influences our lives. Sometimes I have this balance and other times I don't, but I learned that keeping this idea of balance in our minds helps. The more we think about it, the more we try to apply it into our lives, the more we become aware of the multiple meanings it has.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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elbisivni

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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby] 1
#8026063 - 02/15/08 07:13 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Be content in knowing that you do the best you can do at any given moment, that it may not be perfect and that you will strive to make your best better.
-------------------- From dust you are made and to dust you shall return.
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Icelander
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026439 - 02/15/08 09:49 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
mushbaby said: Is it better to accept where you are in your life and who you are or to always strive for more, to constantly challenge yourself to improve?
Yes. (this is not a joke)
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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mushbaby
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Re: On being content [Re: Icelander]
#8026495 - 02/15/08 10:09 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Okay okay , I get the point y'all. I must have not worded it correctly.
Let me see if I can rephrase it. But it will probably take me a couple of minutes. BRB
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Veritas

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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026531 - 02/15/08 10:19 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Content: Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.
I don't think that this is possible for humans on anything but a momentary basis. Even if we only look at basic physical needs for food, rest, water & air, we will see that we cannot avoid becoming discontented.
When we are discussing contentment with circumstances, there is something to be said for both acceptance AND discontentment. While it is non-productive to deny and refuse to accept what is real, it is highly beneficial and necessary for us to notice whether our current circumstances are what we would ideally prefer them to become. We need not create suffering based upon the gap between our preferences and reality, but we can utilize our discontentment to create internal motivation towards growth and change.
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Icelander
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026538 - 02/15/08 10:20 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think the wording is fine but I believe that they are not mutually exclusive. Attachment would be the only hindrance.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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mushbaby
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026583 - 02/15/08 10:28 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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There's a point in some people's lives where they can just say "Things are ok. Not perfect, but it's definitely been worse. Think I'll just go with the flow and coast. Rocking the boat could upset what I've already got and possibly make life worse." They aren't necessarily satisfied but content.
But, said person knows that with effort, some courage and determination things could go from so-so to better. Maybe. Maybe not. It's a gamble really.
Is it wrong for that person to choose to coast and not take the challenge?
I don't know if right or wrong would be the correct words to use here, but hopefully everyone gets the jist of what I'm saying.
Veritas I really like that. It posted while I was trying to figure out how to word this.
Edited by mushbaby (02/15/08 10:38 AM)
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Veritas

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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026647 - 02/15/08 10:42 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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"Satisfied" and "content" are synonyms. If someone becomes dissatisfied enough, they will seek change. If they are merely somewhat discontented, their fear of change may cause them to tolerate their situation.
It is not wrong to tolerate a less-than-OK situation, but it may not add up to a fantastically juicy life experience. Personally, I find it more of a risk to remain discontented than to pursue what is juicy and delightful. Even if I "fail" to attain what I am pursuing, I have acted in alignment with my values and preferences, and that has worth for me.
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MushroomTrip
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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8026650 - 02/15/08 10:43 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Is it wrong for that person to choose to coast and not take the challenge?
It neither wrong or right. It is either more preferable or less preferable, but this all belongs only to personal preference. Perhaps as long as you consider it a challenge that's what will keep you confused. Challenge = expectation and usually when we have expectations we end up unhappy. If your will is to improve things it should be because you need to, you seized the opportunity and there's no way back, not because you should.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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Icelander
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good good
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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backfromthedead
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The ways in which one could improve to make one's situation better are the exact methods that cultivate a sense of deep contentment, imo. This doesn't mean that we should stagnate. But, rather, appreciate now for what it is. Wonder... Allow yourself to feel amazed... And learn. This is best achieved by allowing yourself some room. Taking into consideration your limits as an individual and realizing that there is tons of room and time to grow.
You should be unraveling the old stitches and patching up the 'worn' areas at the same time, imo.
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deranger


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Re: On being content [Re: mushbaby]
#8027224 - 02/15/08 01:02 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i can say i am content a lot of the time, but there are times i have this feeling that there is more to uncover within myself.
i think most of the people here aren't totally 100% content with their lives, even if they aren't aware of it.
there is always more to life than what meets the eye, and i don't see it as a bad thing to follow these feelings.
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