to me satifaction is relaxation but happiness makes me feel like I have a live mouse in my stomach (in a good way) and makes me more social and makes me smile?
I can actually be happy without being satisfied. Lots of things make me feel happy, it’s higher pitched feeling, involves some excitement I’d say. I’m generally pretty happy.
Satisfied is when I feel good about something being finished (unusual state for me) or like everything is plenty good enough. It’s calmer and doesn’t happen as often. I don’t think I have the sort of trust needed to feel like things aren’t on the verge of collapse, maybe.
The way I explained it last time someone asked me this is that happiness for me is a positive number manifested in the form of an emotion and sensation of the soul. Satisfaction, meanwhile, is simply the gratefulness that there was an effort in the universe to please me.
Satisfaction is just a level of contentment for me. I’m in a good place, nothing’s wrong, I have all my needs met. I’m satisfied.
Whereas happiness is a higher emotional plane. I actually feel good, not just content. My emotions are elevated and it would take something drastic to negatively alter my mood.
Happiness is an elevated positive state of emotion, whereas satisfaction is more of a neutral positive.
Satisfaction is an external influence that creates a sense of contentment in me. Happiness, on the other hand, is an internal force that can be influenced by external factors but is largely dependent on a bunch of other things like the shit storm going on (or not) in my life at any given moment.
Satisfaction is owning my beach house (and accomplishing everything needed to get to that point). Happiness is sitting poolside at my beach house, in the morning sun, with a cup of coffee and a personal sized joint. Enjoying the warmth of the sun, and the possibilities of the day ahead, and all the hours mine to do with as I please.
Satisfaction is achievement, happiness is freedom to enjoy it
I really like your concept and definition as achievement can also be an action as “the achievement to be able to work on something I like” and happiness is something more complete, like I’m happy with the satisfaction.
I’ve found that no matter how big or small an achievement is, if I don’t celebrate it I don’t really find much meaning in it beyond “I have completed the thing and I am proud of myself for doing so”
Its like commemorating the achievements is where the happiness kicks in because you’re taking a moment to make it all about your success. To revel in it, to allow yourself to step back, to look at the forest instead of the trees…to understand where it fits in the series of goals that define the meaning of happiness in your life.
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