The time to live is always now.

We cannot go through life hoping that at some point in the future we will be happy – if only we had enough money or all our plans fell into place.

Thinking that way is self deception – we have convinced ourselves that our personal happiness is dependent on external factors totally beyond our control.

In reality, happiness, contentment and living life to the full is always something that we can experience now.

True happiness is an expression of internal contentment with ourselves and not a response to external events or possessions.

It is not something that we are working towards achieving – it is something that we can only experience in the present moment.

If we are not content and happy now, as we are, then any future happiness that may come with increased possessions or a change in fortune will only be temporary.

Most of us go through life veering from brief moments of happiness (stimulated by external changes or luck) to general discontent with what life has to offer.

The more we have, the harder it is to be satisfied by external possessions and events.

The path to true happiness lies in being content with the present moment – the now.

Only by being content now with what we have can we ever expect to be happy with our life.

Being content now means being grateful for what we have and not resentful for what we don’t have.

Being content now means appreciating our loved ones for who they are now, not wishing to change them to fit an ideal of who they should be for us.

Being content now means accepting that life can be difficult at times for everyone and not wishing that it was always easy for us.

Being content now means keeping our own house in order and not constantly criticising others for how they manage their lives.

Being content now means taking the time to appreciate the wonder and beauty in the natural world.

Being content now means recognising that life is all possibilities.

Being content now is open to anyone at any time.