http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBNKEi1a9-w

So Paulsego, my favorite of the youtube atheists, says he is not happy a whole lot because of discontentment with the state of the world and stuff. After thinking a bit about it I think I've come to the conclusion that 99% of people are unhappy/discontent a good majority of the time. I remember when I was a christian when I felt this way I could always think "Well this world is only in passing, I'll be eternally happy in heaven" or something similar. Now like Paul, I have a good life; a loving wife (one year anniversary tomorrow), finishing my B.S. degree in December, nice house, etc. Yet I find myself discontent often, usually do to feeling like I'm missing something.

Of course religion preys on this feeling saying that it is my "God-shaped hole". I am not naive enough to believe that anymore, yet at the same time I almost wish it was true because I had something to fall back on when I felt discontent. What do I fall back on now? I have my family, but they are not a "fall back on", they are an all the time comfort. But I don't think anything or anyone can really fulfill this feeling of discontentment. Is it grass-is-greener syndrome? Is it just human nature? Is it caused only by desire for something different or better? And if that's the case then is Buddhism the best source of inner peace?

Input would be appreciated. I think paulsego did a good thing in admitting that contentment comes in small doses for him and made me wonder how many people do (and more pertinent, are willing to admit) that true contentment is not something that is often achieved.

And the flip side; if you do have true contentment more often than not, how? All religious answers are welcome, just don't expect me to be willing to believe in a fairytale.