Contentment and satisfaction are the opposite of suffering. When we are fully content, we feel fully fulfilled. And when we are in that state, there is no longing, no craving, no trying to find meaning in life or wondering about our purpose. There is only peace and clarity. And that is the state we’re all trying to reach, that lasting happiness.

A lot of people think that the answer to contentment is getting that next promotion, that big raise, that new car, that house we’ve been wanting. But we all know people who have everything we could ever want and are completely miserable. Contentment does not lie in possessions, because as soon as the new-car smell wears off, so does the happiness. So does that rush of dopamine, that pleasure drug, that chemical in our brain. From winning a game of cards to buying a large new purchase, the feeling is temporary and always comes with suffering later on, the fear of losing that thing, or chasing after that hit like a heroin addict chasing that dragon.

A lot of people will say we need to practice gratitude, keep a gratitude journal, and write down the things we’re grateful for. And while that does help, gratitude is actually a symptom of contentment; it is not the source of contentment. When we get to the source, when we feel the bliss of pure being, of just the joy of being alive, we feel grateful for everything and everyone around us. It comes naturally.

So how do we experience this bliss? There are a few ways. And what we first need to do is connect with ourselves on a deep level, and communicate with every cell in our body that contentment is not something external. We cannot find it by accumulating possessions. We’ll never find it in a drug or any pleasurable activity. Those only condition the mind to believe that the right circumstances will give us contentment, that some external situation, some food, some drug, or someone’s love will give us the contentment we’re looking for.

So we actually need to do the complete opposite of that. Instead of perfecting our external situation, we need to perfect our inner situation. And the way we do that is by doing the things that nourish us from the inside.

1. Return to Nature

We have to look to nature, to our own human nature, and notice the things we evolved to do. Because what we evolved to do are the things that make us truly happy. Like an animal running free in the wild, fully present without a care in the world (except maybe humans and bears).

These things include walking through nature, spending time appreciating its beauty, and connecting with the life-force energy that surrounds us when we’re in nature, that peaceful, loving, nurturing, sustaining energy. It’s the only reason we’re here. This loving energy from nature provides the fruits we eat and the air we breathe.

And if nature is too far, it can be a plant in the house, just communing and meditating with the plant, appreciating the beauty and intricacy in every cell of it. You can admire it from a distance or get close to the leaf and see the veins and mesmerizing patterns. We evolved to be surrounded by nature 24/7. So often we forget that we are animals and that we have these animalistic needs. And this is one of the most important ones that is not being met. We are living in sterile environments.

So as much as you can, every day or once a week, whatever is available to you, swim in lakes and rivers, walk barefoot on the grass or sand, lie in the grass at a park. Recreate the environment we evolved to thrive in.

The more time we spend in nature, the more time we spend looking at its beauty, the more blessed we feel. The more gratitude and contentment will naturally flow from us.

2. Create Moments of Awe and Wonder

The second thing that is very important for contentment is creating as many moments of awe and wonder as we can. This can be spending a few minutes watching the sunset every night, or the sunrise in the morning. It can be going to an art museum, or playing classical music, or any kind of art and music that you love, and allowing yourself to reconnect with that which inspires awe, wonder, beauty, and the majesty of life.

The more chances we give ourselves to see the beauty and wonder in the world, the more gratitude and bliss naturally wash over us.

In addition to art and music, we must allow ourselves to appreciate the little things and find beauty everywhere around us, because it is everywhere. The way light reflects off your glass, the sound of water dripping from a leaky faucet, even that can be beautiful. And if you’re not feeling that beauty, it is vital to look deeper. Contentment is literally found all around us if we just pay attention.

3. Shift from Consumer to Creator

The third essential thing is remembering that consuming leads to discontent, because there’s never enough. There’s never the perfect moment that lasts forever.

One way to break out of that consumer mindset is to go from consumer to creator.

When we consume, there is always more to want. We want a prettier partner or a higher-paying job. We compare everything. And all of this stems from the belief that the present moment is not good enough.

So it is vitally important to spend some time, every day if possible, shifting from consumption to creation. Beat a drum, strum a guitar, draw pictures, paint, sculpt, do art projects with your kids, and make decorations for your home. Knit, sew, anything. Get creative.

Creation nourishes the soul. Consumption, even if we’re billionaires, creates emptiness inside. There is no destination to that chase.

The act of pure creation, even if you are the worst artist or musician on Earth, is not about the final product. It’s about losing yourself in the present moment, which is the ultimate finding of yourself, because the present moment is where everything happens.

Art is one of the most meditative practices there is. It can even be singing in the shower, singing while cooking, taking an improv class, or acting in local theatre. All of these activities force you into the present moment with your full attention. They are incredibly powerful practices for creating contentment with life. They are medicine for the soul.

We all have an inner artist inside us, waiting to come out. So let it out.

4. Meditation and Movement

Speaking of meditative practices, art, exercise, swimming, and running, these all bring us into the moment. Meditation is another incredible tool for gaining contentment because it’s literally the practice of making peace with nothing. And then everything else in our lives becomes icing on the cake. We don’t need it. We’re not craving it or longing for it. We’re not resisting what we find negative. We’re simply allowing whatever is to be.

By making peace with nothingness in meditation, we bring that contentment into every activity and every moment in our lives.

When we live from pleasure to pleasure, without pauses, we begin craving the next hit even before the current one ends. But with meditation, appreciation for life naturally grows.

5. Nourishing the Body

The final thing we can do to feel lasting contentment is nourish the body with what it actually wants: fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, seeds and nuts. It sounds simple, but when we don’t feel good, we crave junk food, alcohol, or drugs to numb the pain.

But if we really want total mind-body-soul contentment, we have to feed the body what it evolved to eat. And these foods don’t give the momentary “chocolate cake” high — they give lasting energy, stability, and a real sense of wellness.

So tap into that inner monkey of yours. Allow yourself time to sit and reflect. Be awed and amazed by the beauty in life and all around you. And from that, gratitude will flow like the Mississippi. You will realize, deep down, that everything you need in life you already have.

And when you realize that, there is no need for longing, craving, desire, or even resisting anything in life, because everything is perfect, just as it is.