We cannot always help what we think or feel but we have absolute control over what we do about those thoughts and feelings. The ability to choose how we want to act and react is the ultimate freedom.

Here’s how I see my job.  I see the labs in our school as my private play rooms. I see my jobs as explaining how my toys work to all my new friends (students) so we can all play with them.

It is any wonder that I look forward to getting up and going to work each day? I commute 50 miles each way and do so willingly because I like my job and enjoy what I do.

It is perfect? Of course not!

Let’s look at both the good and bad parts of my job. I work for a private educational institution with all the normal politics, policies, procedures, etc you would expect in a large organization. Every time I turn around, the administrators are finding new hoops for the instructors to jump through. Many of my colleagues get angry because their students rarely appreciate anything you do for them even when you go above and beyond what is required.

But, my question is, why should the students be grateful for anything I do for them? I get paid to teach them. That is my job. It is what I get paid to do. Why should the students be grateful for me doing my job?

That doesn’t make sense to me.

If I hire someone to do a job, I expect them to do a good job because that is what I am paying them to do. Now if you do go above and beyond what’s required, when they ask you to do something, they usually appreciate it. If they did not ask for your help, they are more likely to resent what you are doing.

That’s the down side of my job. Now let’s look at the up side.

I like my job! I get paid to play with my toys. But the biggest reward I get from teaching is when I get to see that light bulb go in a student’s eyes when they finally “get it” … when they understand what I am trying to teach them.

The way I feel when I see a student get it is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had and I get to see that several times with several different students every time I teach a class.

I make an emotional profit every time I teach a class because I know I am using my god given abilities to help others which makes me feel good about myself. Feeling good about what I am doing makes me happy which also makes me content with my life.

Problems are a part of everyday living and I have never met anyone who has everything they want.

Contentment is the point in your life where nothing major is going wrong. It is a state where everything is OK.
Things aren’t fantastic … you are not on a “high” but you don’t feel that anything is missing in your life so you are not on a “low” either. In other words, you are comfortable … you are content.

I don’t feel anything missing in my life. I don’t have everything I want but I do have everything I need. I am grateful for and take the time to enjoy the things that I do have.

I have friends … people who love me … people that I love.

I am financially comfortable … I have enough money to pay my bills.

Do I have as much money as I would like to have?

No, I don’t. I can’t buy expensive toys, go on fancy vacations or spend a lot of money on entertainment or clothes.

Do I have as much money as I NEED? Absolutely!

Most people are really searching for contentment. Once you discover what you truly believe you will be able to decide what you really want out of life. At that point, if you start down the path to reach you true goals, you will begin to feel happiness and contentment. I can guarantee that because that was how I became content with my life.

Does that mean that you have to have everything you want? Of course not! I don’t know anyone who has everything that they want.

Is happiness having money, fame, fortune, good looks, etc?

No, if it was, people like Lindsey Lohan and Charlie Sheen wouldn’t exist. These people are obviously miserable with their lives. They are filthy rich, young, attractive, famous and yet, they are miserable.

If you feel that something is missing in your life then you are not content. If you are not content it is really difficult to be in a state of happiness. Anybody can be happy for short periods of time. We can be joyous. We can really be turned on by things and that is a good thing. Most people do feel that way periodically.

It is nearly impossible to be on a “high” all the time. That is what most people are trying to accomplish when they use drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex, shopping and a host of other activities to EXCESS. They are trying to recreate that “high”.

However, there is absolutely no reason to be “low” either. You need to find the mid-point between the “low” and the “high” because that is where happiness lies.

Who’s right? … Or is there really a “right” answer?

I define success as having enough resources to do the things I really want to do…the things that bring me happiness and contentment. The resources can be money, time, material things, friends, family, education, social status, power, etc. It all depends on what you want to do…what brings you happiness and contentment. The answer is different for each individual.

Do you know what you really want to do with your life?