Monday, 5 October 2026
Good morning, Principal, teachers, and Shungtakians.
This month, our sharing theme is “Be aware of blessings, find contentment and joy in all things.” Today, I would like to share a little more about the idea of contentment and joy. You may wonder: Is it really possible to find contentment and joy in ALL things, even when life isn’t going the way we would like?
When we think about it, some things in life seem to almost naturally come with disappointment and sorrow. Maybe you have studied a lot for a test, only to receive a mark that is lower than you had expected. Maybe you have tried so hard to write the correct topic sentence for your listening paper, only to find that you still get no content points at all. Or maybe you really wanted to be selected for a team or a role, but someone else was chosen instead.
When we experience these things, our first reaction might be to focus on what we have lost or what we want but cannot have. “I failed this test,” “I didn’t get chosen,” “Things didn’t go my way”.
But what if we tried to look at these experiences differently? Instead of seeing each experience individually, we can remind ourselves that each experience is part of a bigger process. The marks you didn’t get on this test may prepare you to do better next time. The role you were not chosen for may prepare you for another opportunity. Even the mistakes you make today will become lessons that help you tomorrow.
Of course, this does not mean that we have to pretend that these experiences are entirely enjoyable. The truth is, life is tough, and setbacks will always be part of it. At times, it is perfectly natural to feel upset, disappointed, or defeated. Therefore, the key is not to control how we feel, but to choose how we respond. Even in difficult experiences, there can still be blessings that we may not notice at first. We do not need to dwell on our negative emotions, but neither do we need to force ourselves to be happy. Instead, we can ask ourselves, “What does this moment contain, and how can I live it well?”
And this is where contentment and joy become important. Contentment does not mean that we are expected to be happy with everything that happens to us. Rather, contentment means being able to appreciate what we already have. But true joy goes a step further and is more lasting. True joy comes from being present and actively noticing and treasuring the good things that exist alongside the challenges. It is a deeper strength that can stay with us and carry us through different obstacles in life. So, starting from today, instead of saying, “I want to feel happy right now,” we can learn to ask ourselves, “What is difficult about this moment? What blessings can I still find within it, and how can I choose to move forward?” This is what it means to find contentment and true joy in all things: not that every moment is easy, but that even in hard times, we can still find something worth appreciating and a reason to keep moving forward.
Shungtakians, life will not always go the way we hope. But even when life gets challenging, we can choose to appreciate what we have and keep moving forward. So whatever life brings, let us find contentment in trusting what God has planned for us, and true joy in knowing that God is always with us, in both good times and bad.
This month, our sharing theme is “Be aware of blessings, find contentment and joy in all things.” Today, I would like to share a little more about the idea of contentment and joy. You may wonder: Is it really possible to find contentment and joy in ALL things, even when life isn’t going the way we would like?
When we think about it, some things in life seem to almost naturally come with disappointment and sorrow. Maybe you have studied a lot for a test, only to receive a mark that is lower than you had expected. Maybe you have tried so hard to write the correct topic sentence for your listening paper, only to find that you still get no content points at all. Or maybe you really wanted to be selected for a team or a role, but someone else was chosen instead.
When we experience these things, our first reaction might be to focus on what we have lost or what we want but cannot have. “I failed this test,” “I didn’t get chosen,” “Things didn’t go my way”.
But what if we tried to look at these experiences differently? Instead of seeing each experience individually, we can remind ourselves that each experience is part of a bigger process. The marks you didn’t get on this test may prepare you to do better next time. The role you were not chosen for may prepare you for another opportunity. Even the mistakes you make today will become lessons that help you tomorrow.
Of course, this does not mean that we have to pretend that these experiences are entirely enjoyable. The truth is, life is tough, and setbacks will always be part of it. At times, it is perfectly natural to feel upset, disappointed, or defeated. Therefore, the key is not to control how we feel, but to choose how we respond. Even in difficult experiences, there can still be blessings that we may not notice at first. We do not need to dwell on our negative emotions, but neither do we need to force ourselves to be happy. Instead, we can ask ourselves, “What does this moment contain, and how can I live it well?”
And this is where contentment and joy become important. Contentment does not mean that we are expected to be happy with everything that happens to us. Rather, contentment means being able to appreciate what we already have. But true joy goes a step further and is more lasting. True joy comes from being present and actively noticing and treasuring the good things that exist alongside the challenges. It is a deeper strength that can stay with us and carry us through different obstacles in life. So, starting from today, instead of saying, “I want to feel happy right now,” we can learn to ask ourselves, “What is difficult about this moment? What blessings can I still find within it, and how can I choose to move forward?” This is what it means to find contentment and true joy in all things: not that every moment is easy, but that even in hard times, we can still find something worth appreciating and a reason to keep moving forward.
Shungtakians, life will not always go the way we hope. But even when life gets challenging, we can choose to appreciate what we have and keep moving forward. So whatever life brings, let us find contentment in trusting what God has planned for us, and true joy in knowing that God is always with us, in both good times and bad.
Ms Chan KYK