Do you have a tendency to stress the negative side of matters? This can be damaging, for it gives rise to feelings of self-pity and a spirit of complaint. Would it not be better to dwell upon the benefits of your daily routine? The Bible says that people should “see good” for all their hard work. (Eccl. 5:18) Viewing the positive side of things might do much to help you to get more satisfaction out of life.

“Never Be Anxious” for Life’s Necessities

Anxieties over obtaining necessary things such as food and clothing steal satisfaction from the lives of millions of people. But, as recorded in the Bible at Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus Christ counseled: “Never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ . . . Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” Not that Christians expect God to provide for them miraculously without any effort on their part. The Scriptural rule is: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.” (2 Thess. 3:10) But the Bible has aided them to have strong faith in God, so they do not become frantic over these matters.

Even more of life’s frustrations disappear when one develops the Bible’s view of what is truly valuable. We read at Psalm 119:72: “The law of your [God’s] mouth is good for me, more so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.” Those who consider spiritual things of greater worth than material ones find themselves agreeing with the apostle Paul, who said: “Having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” (1 Tim. 6:8) Whatever their circumstances, they learn to make the best of them.

They Found Satisfaction in Life

In more than 200 lands throughout the earth today the Bible has helped people to overcome frustrations and to live a life that is truly satisfying. The experience of a Royal Canadian Navy veteran is an example:

“Four years of military experience during World War II changed me from a naïve young volunteer sailor into a politically conscious veteran, eager to struggle on the civilian front for the freedoms and justice for which we had fought​—supposedly.

“A higher education seemed essential to achieve my goal; so off I went to a university. But I soon realized that existing political institutions and economic systems fall painfully short of satisfying man’s need for impartial justice, equality of opportunity, and genuine brotherhood. I felt disillusioned and frustrated.

“Half way through my university education my wife and I began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses. At last we started getting answers to our questions. We learned that human rule can never satisfy man’s needs, for ‘it does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.’ (Jer. 10:23) Only the heavenly Kingdom government of Jehovah God can administer earth’s affairs justly. Soon God’s kingdom will replace the present corrupt system with a new one, ‘in which righteousness is to dwell.’​—2 Pet. 3:13.

“The God-given hope of a new system of things filled a big gap in our lives. We were thrilled, too, to find in the Christian witnesses of Jehovah an organization that governs itself by the Bible principles that will prevail in that new order. This has satisfied our thirst for justice for the past twenty-three years.

“Further satisfaction came into our lives when we decided to move to South America. Here we enjoy to the full the privilege of searching out and teaching ‘meek ones’ how to live meaningful lives in anticipation of the coming blessings under God’s kingdom.​—Ps. 25:9.

“How thankful we are to have been spared the frustrations suffered by those who strive in vain to straighten out the present system of things!”

Happier with Less

Four years ago a family of eight rearranged their affairs to spend more time in helping others to learn the divine will. This has resulted in much personal satisfaction. The five eldest children now devote their full time to teaching the Word of God to others. What led this family to do this? The mother relates:

“After World War II my husband and I left Holland and moved to Canada seeking financial security. Our goal was to raise a family on a farm there. We viewed farming as the most natural way of life, and felt that a farm would be the best inheritance that we could pass on to our children.

“Things looked promising for a while; but the cost of living continued to go up, and our family grew more rapidly than our bank account. We wondered: Will we ever reach our goal or are we chasing after the wind?

“Then a great change came into our lives. By means of a Bible study with Jehovah’s witnesses we learned that God’s promised new system of things will become a reality within the present generation. This changed our entire outlook on life.

“We came to realize that it was no longer necessary to expend ourselves to build up a sizable material inheritance for our children. In the near future God will see to it that everyone has a comfortable home and sufficient food, along with true peace and security. Now the important thing is to get out and share with our neighbors the wonderful Bible truths that we have learned.

“Though our modest income affords us few of the world’s goods, we are content having enough to eat, sufficient clothing, and a house in which to live. We have personally experienced that ‘there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’​—Acts 20:35.

“No more do I feel bogged down with the innumerable household duties involved in caring for a large family. Our children willingly help with cooking, washing, and other domestic chores. This affords all of us time to share in the all-important activity of helping others to learn ‘the truth that sets people free,’ that they, too, may enjoy a truly satisfying life.”​—John 8:32.

Benefits from the “New Personality”

The apostle Paul, at Colossians 3:9, 10, 12, 13, counsels: “Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality. . . . clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another.” Perhaps you say that you are just not that sort of person. But the Bible can help you to change, and how worth while it is! These godly qualities can aid you to face calmly the many irksome situations that befall a person every day, even if matters should be as trialsome as those of the woman mentioned at the outset of this article.​—See also Ephesians 4:20-32.