Distraction

When you distract yourself enough, it’s easy to stay content.  When you are distracted, you don’t spend time considering eternal life, suffering, or the vanity of life.  I suppose this is why the ascetics speak of the Orthodox life as being one of a “bright sadness.” We are constantly weighed down with grief over sin, grief over failure, grief over suffering (our own and that of others) and the general inability to really do anything about any of it.  But at the same time, we can look forward to an eternity free of sin and suffering.

This is not a selfish perspective.  In most cases, there is very little we can do to relieve suffering.  Certainly, we must do what we can, but there is nothing wrong with recognizing our weakness and inability but at the same time looking forward to a time when that suffering has ceased.