Ceasing discontentment

Sociologists have long been tasked with solving social problems, but besides the obvious case of illness, hunger and thirst, what counts as a social problem?

I’ve seen people complaining about different things online. Sometimes, I wonder, what is the cause of their misery?

Is it political? Would a regime change make them not complain any more?
Is it economical? Would a fairer distribution of wealth help?
Is it cultural? Would a different way of looking at the world change how they feel?

There have been research and discussions on each one of these topics.

In the end, I couldn’t figure it out.

I have been questioning my episodes of discontentment for awhile now.

When you are hungry, you eat something. It is an impulse.

But often times, I feel discontent because I have learned from others. Other people want something, so I seek it too. In those cases, when I understand the cause of my discontentment, it cease to exist immediately.

You may read about this at https://jkrishnamurti.org/teachings. A core idea of J. Krishnamurti’s teachings is to watch things happen in the present moment, not to search for happiness.

May this be of use to you.