The Lived Experience of Contentment: A Study Using the Parse Research Method

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to answer the research question. What is the structure of the lived experience of contentment? The participants were 10 women volunteers. The Parse research method, a phenomenological-hermeneutic method, was used to uncover the meaning of contentment. The major finding of this study is the structure: Contentment is a satisfying calmness amid the arduous as resolute liberty arises with benevolent engagements. The structure provides knowledge about contentment and its connection to health and quality of life. It is discussed in relation to the principles and concepts of human becoming and in relation to how it can inform future research and practice.

The Lived Experience of Doing the Right Thing

“…The notion surfaced that contentment in doing the right thing involves a calm knowing of what is right. This finding further enhances the understanding of contentment as discovered in Parse's (2001a) study of contentment, which found contentment to be a "satisfying calmness" (p. 336). 4.…”

Cervical cancer: the route from signs and symptoms to treatment in South Africa

“…Feelings of satisfaction give a feeling of peace in the context of everyday struggles. 22 Lack of knowledge of cervical cancer and being mismanaged by the health care system robbed the women of peace when an extra burden was added to their everyday struggles.…”

Feeling Peaceful: A Universal Living Experience

“…The etymology of contentment suggests a lasting state or stability of being content (Hoad, 1996). Parse’s (2001) study about contentment reported the structure “contentment is a satisfying calmness amid the arduous as resolute liberty arises with benevolent engagements” (p. 330). Parse (2001) discussed satisfying calmness amid the arduous as, “feeling good and peaceful, even though there are stressful situations in everyday life” (p. 335).…”