Santosha – Finding contentment as an act of rebellion
Written byZach
Santosha – Finding contentment as an act of rebellion
“Santosha” is the yogic idea of contentment or satisfaction. It is one of the Niyamas of the ancient sage Patanjali, which are part of the ethical codes to follow in your life as a yogi (or just as a human wanting to live well, in general)!
In a society where we are constantly bombarded with sales pitches of new things we can purchase, finding real contentment within it all can be a great challenge. This constantly-advertised idea that we need something new to find satisfaction in our lives is a false narrative. It causes us to feel not worthy enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or rich enough. It pushes us to always want more, more, more, more, but doesn’t ever allow us to actually be satisfied with what we have.
This holiday season, consider that possibly you already have everything you need. Hold on to your money, or give it to someone who needs it more than you, and practice santosha. You already probably have enough. You already are enough. You are part of this interconnected, ever-evolving universe, linked to divine spirit NOW, without buying the next thing on sale!
Also remember that santosha is a practice. We must cultivate contentment, not just expect it to arrive. It might not come easy. But I promise you it won’t be on the shelf of Walmart, Amazon, or anywhere else this Black Friday. Write a gratitude list. Go out of your way to tell people you’re thankful for them. We invite you to make the radical choice of buying no new gadgets this week. Skip the sale and attempt to feel whole with what you already have.
There is nothing worse for the terrible machine of capitalism than a satisfied, content, present human who loves themselves just the way that they are. Sure, we want you to come on a retreat, or buy one of our shirts someday, but that’s not because you aren’t already perfect. Spend your money on things that add joy to an already content life, not because you’re looking for external solutions to an internal lack of contentment. Loving yourself is a radical act and not only makes you richer, but also ripples out to help everyone around you feel more love.
Here are a few ways to practice santosha:
Practice finding the light in the darkness. This doesn’t mean toxic positivity. However, usually there is some form of positive influence in even terrible situations. If you believe that life is unfolding to serve a divine, higher purpose, as we do, then all of our lessons have a purpose and a reason, even if we can’t see it in the tough moments.
Consider not doing. Many times in life we make decisions based on doing one act or doing another. Often times there is a third path, the path of not doing. This can mean not reacting to a difficult situation, not making that new purchase, not allowing yourself to think too much. This is not as easy as it sounds and often not doing is harder than any of the paths of action.
Practice gratitude. By being grateful for what you have, it make you intrinsically less likely to desire for more. If you live in a western, developed country, chances are you have enough to survive. You probably have a lot more than that. Practice being comfortable, or even happy with what already surrounds you. Often the temporary want for more is nothing more than a craving that will soon pass.
Love yourself! By being satisfied with who we are, we stop looking for more and more. We maybe realize that our cup is already full or even overflowing. The world is constantly telling us that we are not enough. Santosha is about realizing that our happiness doesn’t come from a store, but from somewhere inside of ourselves.
