Mindfulness.com
Meditation
See all Meditation

Browse

Top articles

How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation

What is Meditation?

Mindful LivingSleep
CommunityFor Work

Contentment vs. Complacency

Cory Muscara

00:00

00:00

Cory Muscara

4.8

Duration

Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on your phone

Contentment vs. Complacency

Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:

Hey, welcome back to

your Daily Mindfulness.

In today's session, we're going to be

talking about navigating the territory

of contentment and complacency.

So one of the big fears I hear from

people, especially those who like to

achieve a lot of things is that if I

meditate, I'll become too happy and

content, and then I'll just be complacent.

I won't want to do anything.

But being content does not mean

you no longer wish to grow.

Being content means you understand that

who you are and what you're worth is

much greater and more substantial than

anything you could possibly achieve.

Often when we fear that we'll be

complacent, if we're content, it usually

means that our sense of self-love and

self-worth is intimately and intricately

tied to our goals and our achievements.

And our actions are almost solely

motivated by fear or anxiety and feeling

unfulfilled as opposed to an excitement

for growth and the opportunity to serve.

And this is being more motivated

by pain factors than inspiration.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

But if our growth and our desire to

achieve stems, primarily from a neurotic

drive to feel worthy, then I believe we're

in a toxic relationship with achievement.

There are other factors though,

that can drive us to action.

Love ,compassion, awe, and kindness.

In fact, research by Robert Emmons shows

that people who are more grateful, which

could be a form of contentment, are more

energized and likely to reach their goals.

And it's coming from a place of feeling

full and inspired and motivated.

When we're deeply content, there's a

calmness in our hearts and it tends

to enable us, enable us to grow in

a way that does feel inspired, grow

in a way that feels organic and grow

in a way that feels free rather than

pressured by a crippling anxiety to

have to get more done or do more in

order to be loved or worth something.

So just notice what your

relationship to the idea of

contentment and complacency is.

I know that as you continue on this

journey, as you develop that inner

fulfillment, yeah, it may start

shifting some of those organizing

variables that inspire a certain

kind of action in the world.

If you're primarily motivated by

fear or anxiety or not feeling good

enough, which is very common, that

can start to shift with the meditation

practice because we're, we're

getting full from the inside out.

But in my experience, and with

working with many students that have

experienced that themselves, there's

a new kind of motivation that arises,

a new kind of inspiration for action.

One inspired by, by gratitude, care,

love, and wanting to do good in the world.

So that's something I think we can trust.

I'll talk to you in the meditation.

Thank you for your practice and take care.

Get Unlimited Access

Start your mindfulness journey today.

A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.

  • Over 1,800 meditations, sleep, calm music, naturescapes and more
  • Daily mindfulness video meditations 365 days a year
  • 100s of courses and tools to help manage anxiety, sleep and stress

Email Missing

We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.
or

Mindfulness Guarantee

We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.

If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.


Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.

Mindfulness

Bring balance into your everyday life.

We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.

  • 2,000+ Guided Meditations
  • Daily Coaching
  • Sleep Content
  • Mindful Exercises
  • Mindful Radio
  • 10+ Courses from world-class teachers

Private Browsing

Added to your cart!

Checkout

Claim your free access

Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.

or continue with
By continuing, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Do you already have an account?

Start a free trial to play this session

7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.

Start 7-Day Free Trial

Finish personalizing your account

Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.