“Happiness is a state of mind while satisfaction is the absence of want.”**
When I think about the things that bring satisfaction to people, I think of food, drugs, sex—things that have instant results. These things that come to mind are mostly physical because we feel their effects sooner than things that bring us mental or emotional satisfaction or even real, lasting happiness. However, as we all know, just as quickly as physical satisfaction comes, it goes. Yet we are obsessed with it. Instant gratification is idealized and seems to be what every ad is selling. But why? We know it won’t serve us in the grand scheme of things or bring us any long-term happiness. Is it because we’re lazy? Or maybe impatient?
Long story short, the answer to both is yes. As humans, we tend to place more emphasis on the present without fully considering future consequences. While that can sometimes be seen as a good thing, in placing more emphasis on short-term satisfaction, we often hinder our long-term happiness without even knowing it. Some of my fondest memories were made as a result of that “live in the moment” mentality, but I will also admit it was that same mentality that led to moments of self-destruction, solely because I thought something would make me happy right then. Still, when I began to think about what exactly it was about those fond moments that made them so memorable, it was not the results of whatever split-second decision I made, but rather who I made it with or what we were doing. While short-term satisfaction itself does not necessarily have long-term benefits, it can be useful if it leads to the discovery of who you like being around or of something new you enjoy doing.
“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” (Linus Pauling)
The truth is that neither happiness nor satisfaction are sustainable. They are things we have to work towards and actively seek out, so the question becomes which should I place more emphasis on in my life--long-term happiness or short-term satisfaction? Maybe the answer seems obvious, but our actions often contradict the placement of real happiness above quick satisfaction. One obvious example of this is cheating in a relationship, which is, sadly, more common than you’d expect. Throughout the course of a relationship, the chances of infidelity are about 25%. Rather than working through the issues within the relationship, or even ending it if that is what’s best for both parties, as many as 1 in 4 partners turn to a short-term solution by seeking out physical satisfaction in someone else.
All of this is not to say that satisfaction doesn't have a place, but rather to say that we should proceed with caution, seeing as short-term satisfaction can feel in the moment like long-term happiness, or it can even be used to try and make up for a lack of happiness. Yet things that bring us true happiness have to be maintained, whether they are hobbies, interests, or even relationships. If we don’t consistently work at them (at times forgoing short-term satisfaction), we run the risk of them becoming just another mundane aspect of life, losing both satisfaction and the longer-term happiness they can bring us.
Grohol, John M. “How Common is Cheating & Infidelity Really?” PsychCentral. Healthline Media, 22 March 2013.<https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-common-is-cheating-infidelity-really#1>.
Heshmat, Shahram. “10 Reasons We Rush for Immediate Gratification.” Psychology Today.Sussex Publishers, LLC, 06 June 2016. < https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201606/10-reasons-we-rush-immediate-gratification#:~:text=Generally%20speaking%2C%20we%20want%20things,strong%20desire%20for%20immediate%20rewards.>.
Lyubomirsky, Sonja. The How of Happiness. Piatkus Books, 2010.
**“Happiness is a state of mind while satisfaction is the absence of want.” http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-happiness-and-satisfaction/