Life balance

Happiness and Satisfaction are two very important aspects in one's life!

Happiness is the present moment feeling here - mentally engrossed, thoughtless state, joyful state, no mental strain from thoughts and thinking! This need not be due to any productive activity which produces values for others. In this modern information age, there are so much interesting stuff around that one can practically live most of their time in happy and engrossing activities which are not of any value to other people. One good thing about this is you are always distracted from the thoughts and the mental strain that comes associated with it! Examples include playing sports, music, other arts, watching interesting videos, reading interesting stuff, any of the drug addictions etc.

Satisfaction is the worthy/achievement feeling when you look back in your life - involving thoughts, assessing life, contentment, facing truths, processing ideas etc! This will be due to the productive activities and the value produced for others in one's time. It is quite difficult to produce a great value for others in this age of distractions if you don't have any of the following,

1) a very strong self-discipline

2) an important cause or purpose that has great chemistry / passion for you

3) an addictive and productive activity, like the ones noted in the Happiness description above.

Now, the Ideal situation in one's life would be to have one's favourite activity as their main work as well! Examples for such persons include Roger Federer, AR.Rahman, or any other genius worker. This would seem the most effortless among the others. It is easier if the activity has started much earlier in one's life, say as a kid, before one's mind starts losing focus with all the interesting options! But, this can start later in life also with a focused and conscious effort. Now, this is not to discount the self-discipline they would have needed to make their favourite activity productive! One thing here though is that this may not be the value that people need the most. Because one's favorite activity usually does not start with the people's needs, but rather with the ones that is of most interest to them. So, a Federer does not produce as much value to people as a Gandhi does of course!

Now, lets look at the various life balances that are typical of some of the standard categories in human society.

1) Close to 100% Happiness & close to 0% Satisfaction

These are the extreme cases of drug addicts, TV addicts, internet addicts etc. They feel joyful and engrossed most of their time, but would have nothing good to look back in their lives.

2) Close to 0% Happiness & close to 100% Satisfaction

This is the case of Necessity or Great Cause. One works out of grave necessity or for a great cause, and the activity is not enjoyable and does not give any present moment happiness. These are typical of philosophers who live a life full of misery and leave behind a great value to others. Also includes people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa etc.

3) About 65% Happiness & about 35% Satisfaction

Typical balance of a modern hedonistic person's life. Having some engrossing hobbies which are not producing any value to others, a few of the common addictions, following a lot of news, being a fan etc.

4) About 25% Happiness & about 75% Satisfaction

Typical balance of a modern "responsible/steady" person's life. Accepting the job and other social responsibilities as a whole package, thrown in with some share of happy moments. A decent life balance that's quite practical and sustainable in these modern times.

5) About 75% Happiness & about 75% Satisfaction !!

Yes, the percentages doesn't add up here and that's why this is the ideal & effortless combination. You are happy and in-the-moment during your main work hours. And also you are creating great value to others directly or indirectly, using some self-discipline. I say "some" self-discipine because though a great amount of self-discipline is still needed, it works in a kind of synergetic way with the actual passion. Its definitely easier than pushing hard without that much passion or chemistry ;)