Lack of contentment is the reason why people are committing different atrocities globally. There was a time when prostitution, cybercrime, and others were filthy things in the eyes of many people, but these days, people no longer feel ashamed about these things.The youths are going to crazy lengths to acquire things that don't add any significant value to them; if they were content, a lot of them wouldn't be sitting in jail right now. We blame the government for every problem that arises in the country, but we don't pause to see how not being content has driven a lot of people crazy.
Lack of contentment will be a difficult issue to tackle because it's not something that's happening only at the grass roots. It has eaten deep into people, even at the top, and corrupted their morals. Imagine our politicians getting paid handsomely but still digging their dirty hands into what belongs to the country. If they were content, even the country wouldn't be what it is.
Contentment is a virtue that I feel everyone should have, both young and old. From my perspective, contentment breeds gratitude. A man who has this virtue of contentment is grateful and appreciative for who he is and what he has. He is satisfied with his present achievements, but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't desire more. The difference is that he is not a greedy fellow but one who can sit down and reflect on where he is in life and be thankful for it while working hard to achieve his life's dreams. He is never in an unhealthy race with anyone or envious of other people's achievements.
A lot of people believe that contentment is the key to unlocking happiness, and I also believe that contentment births peace of mind. If you are content, you are pleased with what you have, and you have peace of mind within you without being envious of what others have that you do not have. This is a virtue worth having for everyone in order to avoid unnecessary competition in our world today.
Now, contentment doesn't mean you should be lazy about your improvement. Neither does it mean that you should remain in your comfort zone and settle for less when you have the capacity to achieve more. This is the bad side of contentment, if you ask me. I am content with what I have at the moment, but that doesn't prevent me from striving to achieve greatness. If I have the capacity to work towards being an employer of labor and limit myself because I am contented, then I am a lazy being. The main thing is accepting yourself where you are without envy and working towards your dream. Many people have allowed what they see on social media to influence their lives negatively. People showcase fancy houses, cars, and human hair worth many dollars. If you lack contentment, you might follow the wrong route and be like others instead of reflecting on your present level and being grateful for it.
All in all, it's important for us to realize that life is not a competition. The more grateful you are for your present achievement, the more happier you may be. As for me, I have embraced contentment while I work towards a better future and I feel that this is one virtue everyone should possess.
This is my response to the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled The One Virtue
Please note: the thumbnail was designed using canva app
