Contentment in a Burning World

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores a quiet but uncomfortable question.

Is it acceptable to feel content while the world around us seems unsettled?

With images of war, political unrest, and global tension constantly appearing in our news feeds, many people feel a subtle sense of guilt when moments of calm arise in their own lives. Does feeling steady mean we are disengaged? Or is contentment something else entirely?

Drawing on the research of positive psychology pioneer Barbara Fredrickson and insights from Stoic philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Cleanthes, Michael reflects on how the human nervous system responds to uncertainty and why chronic agitation rarely produces wisdom or compassion.

The episode also introduces a practical idea drawn from resilience research: creating moments of certainty when life feels unstable. Small routines, rituals, and predictable anchors can help restore psychological balance and allow clearer thinking when resilience is low.

Along the way, Michael reflects on his own experience in broadcasting, where the simple certainty of announcing the time once helped bring order and structure to the rhythm of the day.

This is not an episode about ignoring the world’s suffering. It is about understanding the difference between indifference and steadiness, and recognising that emotional regulation may be one of the most responsible ways we can show up for the people around us.

In this episode:

• Why contentment is often misunderstood

• The Broaden and Build Theory of positive emotions

• Stoic insights into control, acceptance, and emotional steadiness

• Viktor Frankl on the space between stimulus and response

• How creating small “moments of certainty” can restore resilience

• The ripple effect of emotional tone in leadership and daily life

Michael Comyn is an executive coach, broadcaster, and host of the Mind the Gap podcast, where philosophy, psychology, and emotional intelligence meet everyday experience.

If you enjoy the podcast, you can also explore Michael’s books available on Amazon, where many of these ideas are developed further.