Interesting subject. I have always thought that what makes people content depends upon how restless or vulnerable they are to start with. Based on personal observation a lot of chasing after things, status or higher consciousness seem to be compensatory strategies - attempts to fill holes or put out fires. I generally think if you chasing after contentment or happiness they will remain elusive. For me it's found in quiet and not thinking too much about myself.

I think that for many people contentedness comes with age. As you experience more you realise your own limitations and adapt to live within them and stop pushing yourself to do more, go further. So you could say contentedness is the product of a life spent willingly doing things you can do, rather than those you can't or struggle to do with the competence you desire. 'Desire' is always for something you haven't got. If you've got all you need it vanishes, as does the dissatisfaction of 'failing'..

Quite clearly something has been lost in translation. That's the only explanation that fits, makes sense.

Therefore, I ask the reader what do they think is the notion of being content? How does one achieve it, and if you disagree with the above, then why so? — Shawn

Great topic, Shawn. First let's define terms. Content: in a state of peaceful happiness, a state of satisfaction.

Now that we have a clear working understanding of the term, the questions are: how do we achieve it, why is important?

We achieve it through a number of means. Goal accomplishment (very important), interpersonal harmony, sexual fulfillment, education, meeting basic needs, strengthening our bodies, advancing in our careers, and very importantly having children. Before we get to the second question, it may prudent to ask: are any of the things listed above not conducive to individual and societal flourishing? If it is an imperative of your nature to live on the planet, then it seems that those characteristics that define what human life can be and in its most potent state are the pinnacle of action. All of which is basically encapsulated by the above list and produce contentment, especially when combining them.

Why is it important? You wouldn't be asking the question if it weren't. There is another biological imperative which is the opposite of contentment, that being dissatisfaction as a state of being. The nature of the state of dissatisfaction is one laid down by 300 mill years of evolutionary psychology. It is intrinsic to one's nature to not be at peace in dissatisfaction, thus it is important simply from a naturalistic perspective. Just as eyesight is important, your body screams at you to remove debris from your eye when it gets trapped, it is imperative that you have them for continued use, so that you may do the things listed above, at least from a biological perspective. And just as eyesight is protected in such a manner, so too does your body scream out to you (dissatisfaction) when you are not fulfilling the actions requisite to achieving contentment.

As far as how it is individually achieved, that is up to you. Why it is individually important, you must decide. But, remember that the rational side of you is meant to assess the natural aspects of both your being, which governs states such as contentment, as well as the threats thwt the world poses against such a state.

The science is in favour of a 'flow' state.

This is where we take on a challenge that is just about achievable. Conversely, if the challenge is too difficult we experience anxiety, and too easy we experience boredom.