This reminds me of the "Emotional Scale" from Abraham-Hicks. Joy & Freedom are listed at the top of the emotional scale with Happiness. It teaches that we can't jump from a very negative place to the top of the ladder, but if we take small steps, we're doing a good job at increasing our emotional state. Contentment falls in a positive place that is pretty easy to get to when put into context with everything else. Great read and great practice to go along with it.