The good things of the mind come when you pare down your concern for material things, you pare down your concern for the world outside and your position in the world outside, and you focus more on what good qualities you can develop.

"You notice as you read through the teachings of the ajaans, a huge percentage of the Dhamma talks are pep talks. Encouragement. It’s all too easy when you’re under difficult circumstances to think about how much better you’d like it to be this way or that way. But the ajaans are there to remind you to think about the good things you do have, not so much in terms of the material things, but in terms of good opportunities to practice. These opportunities don’t come if you’re spending all your time trying to become as wealthy as possible, or as famous as possible, or as powerful as possible. The good things of the mind come when you pare down your concern for material things, you pare down your concern for the world outside and your position in the world outside, and you focus more on what good qualities you can develop. Sometimes you develop these qualities in the context of society at large, and sometimes you develop them when you’re out in seclusion. But they are the real food for the mind.

And they are the happiness that doesn’t have anybody laying claim to it. You’re free to be as generous as you want. No one else can lay claim to generosity. You’re free to be as virtuous as you want. No one’s laid claim to virtue. You’re free to develop your meditation. No one else has laid claim to your mind and your meditation. This is an area where the opportunities are wide open."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Free Like a Wild Deer"