Satisfaction Guaranteed

 Loving ourselves and life from where we are 

Until I decide I won't, I am penning, these blog posts in support of my ongoing sacred journey course,“Creating a Life of Contentment,"  which began Sept. 15. For one entire year, we'll be traveling together as intimate companions: to relax, let go and rest into Love; to discover the bliss of our own life. I hope you will join me here! You can learn more about the program there. 

Satisfaction Guaranteed

A few years ago as my Buddhist studies deepened, I was introduced to the Metta Sutta—the Buddha’s teaching on Universal Love.

Being an interspiritual gal, the “sermon” resonated. It felt to me to be a bold invitation to all beings everywhere (regardless of their spiritual persuasion) to love deeply.

It begins like this and contains my favorite Contentment phrase:

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied.

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,

Not proud or demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest things

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

Can you guess which phrase might be my favorite?

Contented and easily satisfied.

Especially the “easily satisfied” part.

And why would this be?

Because we are not  — easily satisfied.

So very often we are not content with what is here or how things are. We want them to be different—tastier, less expensive, slower, warmer, brighter, longer lasting ....

And on and on the list goes of the ways we naturally seem to respond to what we are experiencing.

We’d always like it a little bit different so it will feel “just right.”

If we are transparent with ourselves, rarely are we completely content with something as it is. Our ego loves to jump in and find something wrong, and because we are not able to see that it is the voice of our ego (doing what an ego does best: keeping us disappointed, judgmental, displeased), we follow its lead.

What this leads to, of course, is a way of connecting with the world and those around us with dissatisfaction.

I know firsthand all about this ego voice. I apparently came into this life with a lot of sensitivities. I can easily be drawn into “this is too much.” Meaning, too loud, too bright, too cold, etc. Dissatisfaction.

It feels as if my body/mind is always on alert to keep me completely comfortable at all times.

Uncomfortability can often lead to discontent. Nothing is ever quite right.

This is why I love the phrase “easily satisfied.” It invites me to notice the voice of “this isn’t quite right yet” and settle down inside myself. To invite myself to let go of feeling like I have to change everything to be just so—so I feel perfect, comfortable, happy.

“Easily satisfied” can be a powerful mantra. Attach it to a gentle in-breath and an out-breath and see how it might feel to you.

I am using it more and more each day myself. It helps.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ 

If you want to be happy, be.  
~Leo Tolstoy