Happiness vs. Contentment -> 🤗 vs. 😌

Last week, you, my dear audience, voted to read about the topic of happiness vs. contentment, and personally, I was most excited to write about this as well. So, here we are — we already have an amazing synergy! 😁

Before we dive in, let’s define both words so we’re on the same page:

• Happiness generally refers to a state of well-being. It’s that positive emotional experience we associate with joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

• Contentment, on the other hand, is more of a state of peaceful satisfaction. It means being mentally or emotionally at ease with what you have and where you are in life, without constantly craving more.

To conclude, I’d differentiate the two by the energy that surrounds them. Happiness is the active, positive emotion that makes us feel energized and motivated, while contentment is more about calm, internalized satisfaction.

Let’s go!

Today’s word count: 839

Estimated read time: 4 min 27 sec.

Quote 1:

“That’s the nice thing about the present. It keeps showing up to give you a second chance”

- Ryan Holiday (stoic, thinker, storyteller)

First things first — I’m a strong believer that in order to feel content, which is something I’m striving for in my current stage of life, one must be truly present in the moment. It’s only in the now that we can find real peace and the kind of fulfillment we’re searching for.

In contrast, when we live in the past, we may encounter transience, nostalgia, or even sadness. When we live in the future, we might feel hope, excitement, but also anxiety.

And I know many of you might find yourselves drifting into the past or the future, frustrated by the feeling of not having full control over your thoughts. But here’s the thing — don’t stress too much about it. Simply being aware of where your mind is going is already a powerful step.

Quote 2:

“You have to stay in the game long enough to get lucky.”

- David Senra (podcaster, historian, storyteller)

I know what you might be thinking right now: What do luck and success have to do with feeling content or even happy?
But hear me out — the connection is actually much deeper than it seems.

Contentment implies a peaceful joy — and someone who genuinely enjoys what they do is far more likely to stick with it. That consistency, that willingness to keep going, is what allows them to eventually outlast those who are simply forcing their way through.

When you devote your time, energy, and — most importantly — your joy to a certain path or craft, you increase your chances of hitting a breakthrough. You stay in the game long enough for opportunity to find you.

So, find a job or a calling that brings you fulfillment — not just fleeting happiness, but real contentment. That’s what will help you weather the hard times as well as the good ones… and keep you on the path long enough to get “lucky.”

Quote 3:

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”

- Coco Chanel (fashion icon, innovator, visionary)

Being content also means accepting things as they are, accepting yourself, and being in harmony with who you truly are. And there’s a lot of beauty in that.

I know it’s much easier said than done, so I won’t pretend to have this all figured out. But just keeping the idea in the back of your mind that contentment, ease, and acceptance are a powerful combination for a fulfilling life. And this can be a good start.

When we stop comparing ourselves to others and let go of trying to fit into someone else's expectations, we open ourselves up to authentic happiness. True beauty doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from embracing our unique qualities and being comfortable in our own skin. It’s about showing up as the person we are, without the pressure to be anything more than that.

Please share with me personally by replying to this email, or with the community by commenting below: How do you get yourself into a state of contentment?

Love you, Igor