PLEASURE AND CONTENTMENT

Rocket Ice Cream, Denver, CO

CHRISTMASTIME

It’s been said that perfect is the enemy of good.  There’s a rapid decline in time and effort versus benefit once you pass the milestone of good.  Not that perfect may not be a commendable goal, but perhaps there are more fish to fry once good enough has been accomplished. 

Recent research has revealed that too many options actually diminishes happiness instead of promoting it.  Most folks would choose an ice cream parlor that has a hundred choices over one with just a few, but its been shown that trying to worry over the options for a multitude of choices just increases decision anxiety and regret for not possibly choosing the best flavor.  And keeping life simple by choosing vanilla is always a good decision!  I remember that our first family television set had only a handful of channels to watch.  Even then, I had to navigate miles of shag carpeting to change the channel and in some cases my dad actually had to climb out of an upstairs window to reorient the antenna for good reception!  Now I sit in an easy chair with a digital remote at my fingertips channel surfing hundreds of cable options and many times end up watching one of the original network stations.

When one of the wealthiest men in the world was asked by a reporter how much money is enough, he replied, “Just a little bit more.”  We humanoids seem to follow the lead of the mythic Tantalus, who never was able to grasp the sweet fruit that always receded just beyond his fingers when he reached for it.  While more of most things can provide more pleasure, they will not provide more contentment.  Contentment is understood to be a condition of the soul and comes with giving thanks for what we already have in life. 

The wise man chooses lasting joy over the elusive state of temporary happiness and grows where he is planted in the here and now.  Happiness is influenced by external stimuli whereas joy percolates from within.  Home is where the heart is and not a particular location or structure.  Its where we keep our stuff and build a life.  Nothing in this earthly life will ever be fully satisfying, but our positive relationships with those around us can sustain us and render life meaningful.  And our Savior has told us that if we love God and one another, we will achieve contentment.