A measure of true success,,,,,,,contentment

How many of us can truly say we are content with our lives? How many of us say we are, without ever really meaning it? What is contentment?
Contentment is a state of mind.  Sounds easy doesn't it. But it is far from easy and elusive as hell. We can find it difficult to be satisfied in a society that operates media 24/7 and the newest, best, biggest and brightest, I can't live without you thing is just within reach.  Why have long hair if short hair is in? House too small? You need a McMansion. Clothes out of style?  You have hundreds of stores to choose your new wardrobe from. Need more money to buy it all?  There are a thousand loan opportunities that await you. We spend a large portion of our lives seeking what we do not have, and once we get it, we start seeking the next thing we can't do without.
We have even become a society of disposable love, multiple partners, if things get tough or complicated or boring we move on to another. 
 Contentment is a state of mind that requires work on our part. We cannot just seek contentment, we must work to achieve it.  We must train ourselves to be still and quite and understand what we are seeking to obtain.  We then need to evaluate the level of need.  Do I need this or want it?  What will change in my life if I obtain it?  Will I lose something in order to gain what I desire?  Often times we don't put the work required into determining what we want and the impact from that is we end up not satisfied.  In the last few months I really thought what I wanted was a new car.  Our cars are old and often times will need maintenance. After researching, seeking, calculating and thinking about the long term commitment, I decided I was quite content with what I have. I have even gone as far as calculating, with average repairs the money I will save monthly.  After working through the whole process, I can truly say my contentment at keeping what I have is quite satisfying.  I am finding in my older age, I am the only one that can fulfill my own state of contentment. There is nothing I can buy or change or seek that will provide me contentment unless I let it.  It is difficult to achieve and maintain the contentment that our society continually wants us to question.  That is why we are the only ones that can achieve the contentment we seek. We need to take ownership of that and stop allowing others to dictate what is suppose to make us happy.  Remember, contentment is achieved a little at a time so always make the effort to put in the work that helps you to make the decisions that are best for you.