There’s a simple way to bring more joy into your life and get what you really, really want:
Be happy with what you already have.
This is the thinking behind the Yoga Tool of Santosha, or Contentment. It’s not a goal as lofty as enlightenment—it really is achievable.
We’re always striving to be more, do more, have more. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Where would we be without ambition to make the world a better place?
I’m always striving to be better, but that can slide into self-esteem pummeling. Then I remember Santosha. This is the kind of contentment that comes from remembering we are already all that we seek, and we already have everything we need. If we don’t have what we need, we have within ourselves the talents and power to get it.
A perfect example of this is my grandmother, Matilda. She was a teenager during the Great Depression. She was also soon the only member of her family to be employed. At 16, she was the sole support of the family, the one keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.
She reached deep within herself and found the strength to continue. She eventually became the assistant to Robert Moses, the architect and developer who shaped New York City.
Matilda never became financially rich, but she was rich in strength and character. Having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, she was able to find happiness in any given moment.
She reminds me to practice Santosha: to look around at what I have within, to be grateful for what I have around me. This brings about an immense feeling of contentment. I already feel rich in joy.
Here’s a little video I made about Santosha. It’s silly, but if that puts a smile on your face, there’s a moment of contentment for you.
Try cultivating Santosha for a few minutes every morning, and whenever you feel like you want or need to be more. Just thinking about all that you have and all that you are right now makes your divine light shine even brighter.