Virtue of the Week focuses on building peaceful and caring communities through understanding and fostering the practice of virtues. The Source supports the Virtues Project and will publish one virtue developed by the project each week.
Contentment is an awareness of sufficiency, a sense that we have enough and we are enough. It is appreciating the simple gifts of life – friendship, books, a good laugh, a moment of beauty, a cool drink on a hot day. Being contented, we are free from the pull of greed and longing. We trust that life provides what we need when we need it.
Contentment allows us to experience satisfaction with what is. We are fully present in this moment. Being contented does not obstruct our dreams or thwart our purpose. It is a place to stand and view the future with a peaceful heart and gratitude for all that is and all that is to come.
Quote
“Love came up to me showing me that a contented mind is best for growth.”
Zoroastrians, The Yasna 43
Practicing Contentment
I allow myself to be satisfied and grateful.
I trust that I am enough.
I enjoy where I am and what I have.
l resist the craving for more.
I am fully alive to the present moment.
I relax in the trust that life is good.
I am thankful for Contentment. It shows me that life is a gift.
Questions for Discussion
– How are the simple gifts of life celebrated in our community?
– What do we need to be fully present in tour social justice work?
– As a community, what will satisfaction in our social justice work look like?
– What will keep us fully present in our social justice work?
The Virtues Project is provided by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in partnership with Virtues Matter.
Virtues Matter was started by a wife-husband team of social entrepreneurs seeking to positively uplift as many lives as possible. We aim to inspire and empower, to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and help everyone lead lives of passion and purpose.
Virtues Matter believes in a world where people are committed to kindness and respect, strive to be their best, and live with hope, courage, and in unity. We built the Virtues Cards mobile app, an interactive personal and team development tool, to help people identify and develop key virtues skills. We also offer dynamic workshops, online training, and customized programs to help people cultivate these positive qualities of character. To learn more, visit virtuesmatter.com.
