Happiness and contentment are very similar and can be mistaken for the same. I. Happiness is a mental state of well-being. A. A mental state is something that can come and go on a daily basis. 1. A person’s daily life activities can determine their happiness 2. A person with a warped mind state can reach happiness with very little effort B. Happiness can be triggered by your emotions
1. An individual can receive and process good or bad information differently.
2. Happiness can instantaneously be taken away by different forms of bad news. II. Contentment is to be mentally satisfied with things as they are. A. A person that has peace of mind is comfortable with their circumstances 1. A state of contentment is a way of life 2. A content individual is someone living with serenity B. Contentment is a goal achieved through perseverance. 1. A person must be able to accept the good and bad. 2. Life is the ultimate judge of a person’s contentment
III. A content person usually has a better overall mindset than a happy person. A. Most people would rather be content than happy 1. A content individual usually has more control of their life 2. Contentment is in essence a higher state of mind than happiness B. Happiness is only for the moment 1. An individual that prefers happiness is usually too busy chasing that emotional state to enjoy life. 2. A happy person usually feels lost after losing their