Happy or content: Which would you rather be?

I would submit:

Happiness can only be achieved in the here and now, in the moment, so to speak, and is forever a fleeting emotion, often momentarily felt by achieving a goal.

Conversely, contentment is a constant, a sense and feeling of well-being, peacefulness, gratitude, and satisfaction, and comes solely from within.

You can be happy and not content, but you can be content and I would say, be almost guaranteed moments of happiness.

What are your thoughts?

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WandererTony · 56-60, M

I would prefer happiness. I agree it is fleeting. I agree it pairs with sadness. Contentment is a constant. Agreed. But given the choice, i prefer change to monotony. The still waters of a lake as seen from the shore are peaceful but attract me less than the waves of the ocean on a beach.
I prefer happiness. Like the morning sunrise rarher than perpetual twilight.

Ontheroad · M

@WandererTony I think I understand, but content is anything but a perpetual twilight and much more akin to low-key happiness without the endorphin rush that so quickly vanishes.

WandererTony · 56-60, M

@Ontheroad a twilight is indeed a low key happiness 🙂 Dont you love the dawn?
The sunrise is a greater visual delight but does not last. The day is longer but limited in length with so many shades of moods. Til the night takes over.
However, analogies may be inaccurate. My point was that swinging changes are better than stillness.
Theres a song in my native language that says that it is better to have one day of love and then death than a loveless lifetime. Something similar 🙂