Yoga Sutra 2.42: From contentment there flows the most supreme happiness and joy.

Just like we practice asana to get strong and flexible in the body, meditation to get calm and centered in the mind, we have to practice contentment to be at ease and peace within our own skin and our own lives.

In Sanskrit Santosha-संतोष-Contentment derives from 2 root words, Saṃ (सं, सम्) meaning complete, whole, all together, entirely and Tosha (तोष, तुष्) meaning contentment, satisfaction, acceptance, at ease, comfortable. So santosha means to accept all that is at any given time, to accept all that you are at any given time--with your insecurities, fears, doubts, sadness, the whole lot of negative thoughts and emotions.

Santosha reminds me of the serenity prayer- "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Santosha doesn't mean that we just sit on our asses and do nothing if conditions of our life are sub-par to what we want. We work on the things we can and we accept those things we cannot change. I get frustrated with computer stuff because I feel “bad” at it but I’m working on it and I’m getting better at it. I don’t consider myself savvy with business endeavors but I’m continually working on it. I will never be taller than I am now, the aging process is real, I have wrinkles, I have cellulite, I've experienced loss and I know grief AND it’s all good, I’m happy.

There is no such thing as a perfect life or being a perfect person, that’s a myth. It’s all about embracing the imperfections, challenges and difficult circumstances as whole-heartedly as we embrace the good stuff. This is a yoga practice in and of itself and this practice according to Master Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras can lead us to the greatest happiness and joy we can know. We must remember as often as possible that light is borne from darkness. And as my teacher Sharon Gannon says "Magic is a shift in perception."

Wake up to how blessed your life truly is and you will know Santosha. Focus on all you DO have instead of what you don't.