The present study has tried to delineate the notion of ‘santosh’ (contentment) in the everyday discourse taking gender variations and
developmental stages into consideration. The study was groups of young adults, older people and saints (N = conducted on sub =
100). The data were obtained through an open-ended measure pertaining to different experiences related to contentment. The findings indicated that the dynamics of contentment had somewhat different connotation for common people particularly, young adults in comparison to the group of saints. Saints emerged as an exclusive category of people who shared a rational worldview while viewing contentment in different facets of life. Younger
as well as older adults construed the understanding of contentment in their collective life-style dominated largely by emotional bonding. It was also observed that materialistic desires still prevail while pursuing the goals of pleasure, enjoyment, happiness,d and contentment. It seems that in the years
to come centrality of contentment will play a leading role in safeguarding human existence and social equilibrium.
Understanding Contentment in Everyday Life (Jitendra K. Singh and Girishwar Misra)
Written by Berhanu Anteneh
May 5, 2024