With Love, Thelms

Would you rather be satisfied or content? Are they synonyms of each other or opposing words depending on one’s perspective? Last night I went to dinner with a girlfriend and this question became the basis of a really amazing conversation. So amazing in fact that I thought it only made sense to share our dialogue, my insight, and ultimate takeaway. As you can then likely imagine, tonight’s post will explore satisfaction versus contentment (beautiful adversaries) and which is more beneficial to hold on to in the long run.

I am aware that I’ve always found that satisfaction is the adversary of contentment. Why? Mostly because to be satisfied is a momentary reprieve before you want more. Crave more and when you do, you find that you are displeased and uncomfortable where you might currently reside. Whereas to be content? It’s to have a level of ongoing comfort where you are while looking into the desire for more (within reason). It’s not to be ignored however, that in most dictionaries satisfaction is used to describe the state of contentment, but I want to challenge that in tonight’s post. I don’t believe that satisfaction is a synonym of contentment when you explore the nitty gritty of it. I believe that on the surface it can appear that way, but it isn’t quite as simple. At least not to me.

Growing up, I remember never wanting to be content because that meant being complacent. I believed that being content meant being okay not progressing or not moving forward. Being okay just, well… being. It almost felt like it was the green light for laziness and lack of productivity.

Hey I was growing up and didn’t know better yet.

I’d never really compared satisfaction to it, until I got older and understood both ends of the spectrum for what they were… true adversaries.

So satisfaction,

There’s a full stop of sorts when it comes to satisfaction in my opinion that I didn’t realize in my younger years. Now that I’m older and have experienced a bit more of life & that’s there’s more to it than trying to decipher between having a Barbie dream house built or turning my room into one — I realize that. Satisfaction is not meant to last, it’s momentary. You can achieve a goal and be so happy. So proud of yourself and satisfied, but the satisfaction of the accomplishment won’t last if you’re just, well… satisfied. Eventually you’ll want more. You’ll crave more. & in doing so, you’ll forget to be happy with what you have already accomplished. You’ll forget or intentionally decide that what you did achieve was nothing compared to the next thing you should aim to achieve. Satisfaction man. It’s just about a bitch if I’m being frank. It’s limiting in that it doesn’t allow you to wade in moments, in people, in life. You’re just ticking, until the next thing you want floats in your head and you’re off trying to chase that high without taking into account the experience that you’re currently in (that once brought you the very same feeling).

Contentment however,

Contentment in its truest nature is limitless. How? Well it’s not promoting laziness or lack of productivity like I once thought. In fact, it’s promoting celebration and continued comfort. It allows you the grace to wade in where you are and all that you have done. It takes into account the goal that you have accomplished and in doing so, wants you to bask in it. To wade in it. To drown in appreciation for where you have ended up. To be okay with where you have found yourself to be. To never negate what you have done, while desiring more. That feels limitless to me. To be content is to be comfortable. Shouldn’t we all crave comfort to some degree? It’s inclusive of joy, a component missing in general satisfaction.

If you’ve made it towards the end of tonight’s post than you can guess where I stand as far as what’s more beneficial.

Contentment has my heart and ima stick beside her & it’s what I wish on you all. That you never negate what you’ve achieved as you look forward to what’s next.

To wading in all we’ve done for a few moments longer than a bout of momentary satisfaction,

Thelms