In a season about doing more to achieve some elusive perfection, it’s time to take a step back and consider contentment instead. Contentment is more than an emotional feeling or absence of dissatisfaction. It’s a state of being that can profoundly affect our lives.

Often regarded as the quiet joy found within, contentment goes beyond the fleeting allure of external achievements. It is a state of being rooted in something more profound, where fear, anxiety, and stress lose their hold over you. Found in both the philosophical depths of yoga and the timeless wisdom of biblical teachings, it becomes a powerful force that ultimately reshapes our lives.

Yoga Philosophy on Contentment

Yoga is more than just a physical practice. It’s a holistic approach to life. At the heart of its teachings is Santosha, or contentment. Santosha encourages us to find joy and peace in the present moment. It helps us to appreciate life for what it is rather than constantly seeking external validation.

One of the fundamental teachings of yoga philosophy is the importance of being present. Contentment thrives in the here and now, urging us to let go of past regrets and future anxieties. Through mindfulness practices like meditation and breath work, you can help calm anxieties and begin to foster contentment.

Contentment thrives in the here and now, urging us to let go of past regrets and future anxieties. 

Christian Teachings on Contentment

The Bible teaches us to find contentment not in material possessions or external circumstances but in a deep and abiding relationship with God. The Apostle Paul writes from prison and shares the secret to contentment in any situation: trusting in the Lord.

Philippians 4:11-13 (CSB): “I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me”. (read the entire chapter here)

Habakkuk’s prayer is a beautiful statement about contentment and trust in God. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (CSB): “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”

We don’t do much of our own homesteading these days. Habakkuk is essentially saying that even though I can’t find any groceries on the shelves and there are no trucks headed my way to refill supplies, I will still celebrate and rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk can do this because he knows that contentment and joy do not come from external circumstances but from a relationship with the giver of joy, the Lord.

Contentment and joy do not come from external circumstances but from a relationship with the giver of joy, the Lord. 

Benefits of Contentment

Contentment isn’t just a command or esoteric principle. When embraced, it has all sorts of positive benefits for our life.

Short-Term Benefits of Contentment:

1. 1. Stress Reduction: Contentment acts as a powerful antidote to stress. When you embrace the present moment, let go of worries, and trust God, stress levels decrease. This leads to a calmer mind and improved overall well-being.
   2. Improved Mental Health: Contentment is closely linked to mental health. By finding joy in the simple things and practicing gratitude, you can enhance your mood, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and promote mental resilience.
   3. Enhanced Relationships: Contentment extends beyond personal well-being and positively influences relationships. When content, you’re more likely to approach interactions with empathy, patience, and understanding, fostering healthier connections with others.

Long-Term Benefits of Contentment:

1. 1. Sustainable Happiness: Unlike the fleeting nature of pleasure derived from external sources, contentment provides a sustainable foundation for happiness. You create lasting joy that transcends external circumstances by appreciating each moment’s richness and God’s goodness.
   2. Spiritual Resilience: Embracing contentment as a spiritual practice and discipline enables us to weather life’s storms with faith and trust.
   3. Increased Resilience: Contentment transforms the way we perceive challenges. Rather than viewing difficulties as insurmountable obstacles, we can approach them with resilience and faith. Contentment becomes a source of inner strength, allowing us to navigate life’s complexities with a sense of peace.
   4. Living a Purposeful Life: A content life is inherently purposeful. By embracing contentment, we align ourselves with scripture’s teachings and can live intentionally, contributing positively to the world around us.

Divergences in Teachings

Contentment in yoga is something you have to work for. It’s a lesson along the path to enlightenment, requiring effort to achieve it. As seen through scripture, contentment is available to anyone who believes in what the Bible teaches. It’s beautifully and simply summarized in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Christian theology emphasizes trust and surrender to God’s plan, similar to the surrender encouraged in yoga philosophy. Both paths guide individuals to release the need for control and find contentment in divine guidance; it’s the source of who we are relinquishing control to that differs.

Interested in understanding another yoga philosophy from a Biblical perspective? Read about non-attachment/Aparigraha here. 

Contentment is a steadfast joy rooted in a foundation that withstands the tests of time.

True contentment, according to both perspectives, goes beyond our circumstances. It is a steadfast joy rooted in a foundation that withstands the tests of time. The message is clear: contentment is not found in the external but in the depth of our spiritual being.