Contentment in life; despite being a frequently used idiom, the perspective of a gratified life varies. In other words, the meaning of a satisfied life is not the same for each one of us. While some are keen on attaining gratification with what they have in hand, some others are insatiable, especially when it comes to material pleasures. They believe in finding contentment by chasing for more riches. Despite being significantly reasonable in their views, it’s undoubtedly true that those who attain real fulfillment are the ones who unearth happiness with what they have.
Ambition is a prized trait, while constant failure to enjoy what’s in hand will drive one crazy. At times, fulfilled with what’s around is termed apathetic. In other words, ambition and fulfillment in life are very often associated in the wrong manner. Unmitigated determination and perseverance to excel are obviously the right catalysts to succeed. However, as the crave runoffs the optimal level, it transforms into an ever-prevalent sense of strong disappointment and despair. Irrespective of having sizable achievements to boast of, such people hardly attain happiness in their life, and continue to wearily chase more worldly desires.
The thin and blurry line between ambition and achievement is to be blamed for this confusion and stumble that most people experience in their life. Nurturing a strong desire to succeed, or harnessing one’s entire potential, can be regarded as the right steps towards triumphing over the odds. However, this pursuit takes the wrong deviation when the resultant gain is less than what’s anticipated. Anticipation or the ever-mounting level of desires is too strong to shorten even the mightiest of the achievements, replacing the feeling of being victorious with a crippled sense of failure and dissatisfaction. In other words, the achievement gets garbed in the intense feeling of disappointment and gloom.
The best and most effective way to combat this negativity is to learn to be fully contented with what’s in hand; to be at peace with what has been achieved. Such a strong and positive stance bridges the extremities between one’s ambitions and attainments in life, without weakening the motivation to strive for excellence against all the adversities. It also helps create the constructive sense of a well-lived life.
A large desire is never to be blamed as none of us are good at carrying diminutive wishes. That said, as the gap between the list of wishes and attainments widen, there grows a sense of losing out. This is the disconnection that’s to be taken care of, as it destroys the entire sense of contentment in life. In other words, an overpowering sense of disappointment and apathy lessens the serenity of life. A strong balance between both ambition and achievement is where fulfillment lies. Being realistic in ambitions and desires is the best way to get out of the mismatch. Aspirations grow appropriately when one carries a strong sense of strengths, limitations, and humaneness. This critical step is indispensable to unleash the power of contentment in life.
The day that should never have dawned
Can emotional bullying be as devastating and intense as physical abuse? This first-hand narrative will help arrive at a clear and logical answer. It was a day I wish had never happened.
Being meticulous at every step of my life, I was not lackadaisical about shifting to a new hostel for a month. However, despite informing in advance about my arrival, a long and frustrating wait awaited me, as the mammoth gates of the building remained unopened. After a series of repeated calls, the landlady sheepishly opened the gates with a lame excuse that she had overslept and failed to remember to keep the gate opened. Though a tinge of discontent flared up deep inside my stomach, I rubbished it off and walked inside to handover the rent, before occupying the space that I was allotted to. As I walked inside, I had the least idea of what awaited me. Though I hardly expected any welcoming gestures and smiling faces, the teeming anger, sarcasm, and mockery of a group of snooty women welcomed me to my new abode. Their body language and histrionics made it very evident that I would remain as an unexpected, un-welcomed, despised, and snubbed inmate during my month long stay. Though it was a sign of caution, I chose to overlook it as the immaturity of a bunch of women who are perplexed at the thought of losing the privacy they had been enjoying until then.
Next sign of obvious protest came in as the disagreement to share the cupboard, although I was allotted ample space to arrange my bags. Much to my shock and disbelief, I found smelly clothes and dirty wrappers stuffed inside the cupboard which was totally empty the previous day. As I patiently cleaning the space, the inmates chose to stay away and ganged up in a room close by. The trouble was far from over. Tired and hungry, I was getting ready to reach the office on time, but felt a tantalizing aroma from the kitchen. As I walked in, the inmates were hurriedly leaving after a scrumptious breakfast. Without expressing the dissent of not being told, I had the breakfast and packed my lunch for the day. Though I was surrounded my scornful eyes, spiteful yet unclear comments, and sarcasm-filled smiles, I was too patient to ignore them. I left for work with a heavy heart, wondering what more was in store.
Come evening and I walked back with an unbearable sinusitis headache, hoping for ample rest and sleep after a stressful day. The bed I was allotted to was cleverly preoccupied by an inmate who had messily left her books, laptops, and cell phone chargers on it. As the landlady paid no heed to my repeated requests to get the space vacated, I politely request the inmate to remove her belongings so that I can sleep peacefully. Although she removed everything while expressing her annoyance noticeably, once again I patiently chose to ignore the snootiness and tried my best to relax. But the worst was yet to come
As the inmates reached one after the other derisively laughing at me, a strong sense of hurtfulness and sickness grew deep inside. Though annoying and insulting antiques was what I received every minute, a resilient quietness was my reply, which annoyed them further. Soon the lights were all switched on and the room was lit like a stadium, music was played, and hullabaloos reached its peak. I confined to my bed, repeatedly begging them to let me sleep. My requests were unanswered and my illness turned out to be a matter of laughter for the entire girl gang who had a gala time throughout the evening. As the landlady walked in by 10.pm to lock the doors, my patience was at its last ebb. After giving a piece of my mind to the lot, I was all set to leave the place at night, but was requested by the landlady to stay back until the next morning.
Amid all the chaos, the landlady unknowingly spurted out that I was the victim of an unreasonable animosity of the girls who have always been vehemently against the idea of welcoming a new inmate.
Early the next day, I quit the place.
Being meticulous at every step of my life, I was not lackadaisical about shifting to a new hostel for a month. However, despite informing in advance about my arrival, a long and frustrating wait awaited me, as the mammoth gates of the building remained unopened. After a series of repeated calls, the landlady sheepishly opened the gates with a lame excuse that she had overslept and failed to remember to keep the gate opened. Though a tinge of discontent flared up deep inside my stomach, I rubbished it off and walked inside to handover the rent, before occupying the space that I was allotted to. As I walked inside, I had the least idea of what awaited me. Though I hardly expected any welcoming gestures and smiling faces, the teeming anger, sarcasm, and mockery of a group of snooty women welcomed me to my new abode. Their body language and histrionics made it very evident that I would remain as an unexpected, un-welcomed, despised, and snubbed inmate during my month long stay. Though it was a sign of caution, I chose to overlook it as the immaturity of a bunch of women who are perplexed at the thought of losing the privacy they had been enjoying until then.
Next sign of obvious protest came in as the disagreement to share the cupboard, although I was allotted ample space to arrange my bags. Much to my shock and disbelief, I found smelly clothes and dirty wrappers stuffed inside the cupboard which was totally empty the previous day. As I patiently cleaning the space, the inmates chose to stay away and ganged up in a room close by. The trouble was far from over. Tired and hungry, I was getting ready to reach the office on time, but felt a tantalizing aroma from the kitchen. As I walked in, the inmates were hurriedly leaving after a scrumptious breakfast. Without expressing the dissent of not being told, I had the breakfast and packed my lunch for the day. Though I was surrounded my scornful eyes, spiteful yet unclear comments, and sarcasm-filled smiles, I was too patient to ignore them. I left for work with a heavy heart, wondering what more was in store.
Come evening and I walked back with an unbearable sinusitis headache, hoping for ample rest and sleep after a stressful day. The bed I was allotted to was cleverly preoccupied by an inmate who had messily left her books, laptops, and cell phone chargers on it. As the landlady paid no heed to my repeated requests to get the space vacated, I politely request the inmate to remove her belongings so that I can sleep peacefully. Although she removed everything while expressing her annoyance noticeably, once again I patiently chose to ignore the snootiness and tried my best to relax. But the worst was yet to come
As the inmates reached one after the other derisively laughing at me, a strong sense of hurtfulness and sickness grew deep inside. Though annoying and insulting antiques was what I received every minute, a resilient quietness was my reply, which annoyed them further. Soon the lights were all switched on and the room was lit like a stadium, music was played, and hullabaloos reached its peak. I confined to my bed, repeatedly begging them to let me sleep. My requests were unanswered and my illness turned out to be a matter of laughter for the entire girl gang who had a gala time throughout the evening. As the landlady walked in by 10.pm to lock the doors, my patience was at its last ebb. After giving a piece of my mind to the lot, I was all set to leave the place at night, but was requested by the landlady to stay back until the next morning.
Amid all the chaos, the landlady unknowingly spurted out that I was the victim of an unreasonable animosity of the girls who have always been vehemently against the idea of welcoming a new inmate.
Early the next day, I quit the place.
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