Contentment is a gift

I finally found the other quote I was looking for in the Eat Pray Love book.

"all the sorrow and trouble of this world is caused by unhappy people. Not only in the big global Hilter-'n'-Stalin picture, but also on the smallest personal level. Even in my own life, I can see exactly where my episodes of unhappiness have brought suffering or distress or (at the very least) inconvenience to those around me. The search for contentment is, therefore, not merely a self-preserving and self-benefiting act but also a generous gift to the world. Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else. Only then are you free to serve and enjoy other people.”

I believe the gift is in truly being you – not about giving in or presenting a false sense of happiness to make others feel better. People who are content sometimes experience sadness, bad days (even bad hair days!), and occasionally go to what I call "the dark side". Contentment to me is when there is more good than bad and it balances out to be a pretty damn good life!