A sense of dissatisfaction accompanies us and may well have become a small, or significant part of our mindset. It is not unhappiness or agitation but a silent expectation of wanting things, and sometimes people around us to be different. We set standards for ourselves and others, knowing very well that things will never unfold exactly as we want, and yet the subtle shadow of dissatisfaction lingers.

Recognising the main causes of our dissatisfaction and the changes we need to make internally will not only lift our mood, but we will also start re-viewing situations and experiencing life differently.

There are times we are dissatisfied with not having enough. We feel we deserve more, or sometimes sub-consciously we feel we have less because someone else has more. I read a beautiful passage in a book – “Is your glass half full or half empty?” asked the mole. “I think I’m grateful to have a glass,” said the boy. Gratitude dispels dissatisfaction.

Often, we don’t get our way, or things are not being done the way we want, leaving us dissatisfied. Even as we must set high standards, we must remember that we don’t control everything. It is our insistence that creates stress. Even as we give our best to excel and help others give their best, dissatisfaction needs to give way to acceptance and patience.

Sometimes situations in life seem like a challenge we think we cannot overcome. The going seems uphill, and the tunnel dark and long. Not only do we breed negativity if not careful, but we also get dissatisfied with life itself, blaming everything on what we perceive as our ill luck. It is precisely at these moments that we need to remind ourselves that our ability to solve a problem is always bigger than the problem. Resilience and optimism pull us up from the dark depths of dissatisfaction.

One of my favourite songs puts this in perspective-

Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya

Har fikr ko dhue mein udata chala gaya

Gam aur khushi mein fark na mehsoos ho jahan

Mein dil ko us muqaam pe laata chala gaya

I took life in my stride

Kept making light of all my worries

I brought my heart to that place

Where sorrow and joy looked just the same

(Picture – Duomo, Milan)