SANTOSHA
Contentment
Next on the limb of the Niyamas is santosha, with its definition being contentment or satisfaction. It encourages us to love life how it is and appreciate what we already have. Santosha is a state of internal happiness and peace of mind, freedom from restlessness.
It’s important to remember we are always changing, so try not to hold on to one specific view of yourself or others. This code tells us look at ourselves honestly, our whole selves, and accept and embrace it all as it is.
We live in a very materialistic age, and similar to aparigraha (non-grasping), we’re taught to cease the continual need to look for greener grass and that physical possession are not what make you content. It’s simply not feasible to sustain the feeling of contentment when we are seeking for joy outside of ourselves.
“Contentment comes from welcoming what is present, regardless of whether it fits our ideas about what will make us happy… Contentment does not depend on how many possessions or pleasurable experiences we have accumulated.” — Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life by Charlotte Bell
The joy that is the result of practicing acceptance can only be ours when we begin with ourselves. If we do not accept ourselves in this moment, we can’t access love in our relationships or for the betterment of the world. A great way to easily incorporate santosha into your life is utilizing a gratitude journal. You will begin to see all the little things that matter to your true Self and open the door for abundance.
“Our ideas of what will make us happy stand in the way of us being happy.”
Benefits of practicing Santosha:
Boosts your overall satisfaction/gratitude
Strengthens relationships with others and yourself
Shifts mindset and focus to how great our life is right now
If we focus on what is good in our lives at this moment, you might be surprised at how quickly you realize that things are better than you thought. True contentment satisfies the soul on the deepest of levels, leading to a lasting happiness.
On Santosha:
“Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.” — Lao Tzu
“Joy is accepting what is. Practicing santosha, we allow ourselves to face reality and accept it. We fight injustice not out of fear, anger or revenge, but with a love that gives us courage.” — Nischala Joy Devi
Donna Farhi said: “Santosha is the practice of choosing love over fear in our everyday lives… When we realize we have a choice, and when we make that choice towards love, our lives come into balance and we begin to feel content.”
