To know whether we are satisfied with our lives or not, we will check within, for the following:

1. Am I affected by what others are thinking about me?
2. Am I influenced by how others are living their life and I try to imitate their routine?
3. Do I constantly compare myself with others?
4. Do I keep wishing to have relationships like what others have?
5. Do I envy others?
6. Am I in the habit of blaming, criticizing and belittling others?

If your answer to the above points is ‘No’, then ‘you are satisfied with life’; otherwise ‘not yet’!

Characteristics of a satisfied person:

A person, after having a full meal, how contented he looks and feels? He neither gets attracted seeing other people having delicious food before him, nor does he envy them.

Similarly, a person who is satisfied with his life too is always happy with whatever he has.

A satisfied person:

• does not blame or criticize others,
• very easily finds positivity in every situation,
• is always ready to help others
• does not get attracted or influenced by others
• never envies others 

What are the causes behind experiencing dissatisfaction?

1. Our own greed:- Let’s see how it works! There was a laborer who surprisingly received an award of 99 gold coins. He would obviously be a happy man, all satisfied with his life now, isn’t it? But he wasn’t! Because rather than enjoying such big amount that he had with him, he was worried about – from where to get one more gold coin in order to take the total to 100.

Similarly, we too, in our life, have 99 things with us, but are dissatisfied about the ‘one’ thing that we don’t have.

2. Comparison and competition:- When a friend says, “I saw this movie”, we instantly feel that “I too will see this movie”. The desire to go to the cinema arises because of the feeling of competition in us that ‘I don’t want to remain behind, by any means”.

Hence, we do not find peace and satisfaction until we go and see that movie.

3. One feels like owning a car as soon as he sees a new car. Why does this happen? Because he is not content from within. There’s an ocean of desire in him. He feels momentary satisfaction when he buys new car, but is again tempted for something else in no time. As soon as one desire ends, another one starts. And thus, they always keep us dissatisfied.

How can we remain satisfied with our life?

• Say, I wish to have a certain thing. Now, do I have to remain unhappy until I obtain that thing? No! I have so many other things in life. If I find happiness in what I already have, then I am always contented. It becomes a win-win situation then – When I get the specific thing I wanted, I am happy. And even until I get the specific thing I wanted, I remain happy.
• The desire itself is the main cause of unhappiness. And there is nothing in this world which can extinguish the fire of desire, except right understanding and knowledge. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “Everything comes to us naturally and in its own time. Even when you don’t wish for something, it comes. So whether you wish for it or not, it does not make any difference. Moreover, desire burns like a fire. Why should I fall in that fire?”

 The Right Understanding to Attain Everlasting Satisfaction (Happiness)

One experiences satisfaction only after obtaining the right, spiritual understanding in life. When you have spiritual knowledge, satisfaction comes naturally then. Param Pujya Dadashri says, “The best way to find real Happiness lies in realizing one’s own Self (Soul)”.

Once you realize ‘Who am I?’ you will automatically begin to rise above all the dualities that exist in the world. Our real Self is the Pure Soul, which is filled with infinite Bliss. Not only this, we experience all properties of the Self after attaining Self-Realization from the living Gnani! So, let’s go for it!