Long post ...but to justify what happened in the conversation, I has to be this way :)

Recently, I sat down with a client, let’s call him Peter, who was wrestling with some big questions about life and work. Our conversation reminded me just how personal the concepts of satisfaction and happiness really are.

Peter started with, “Am I really satisfied? Am I truly happy, or am I just saying it for the sake of saying it?”

I asked, “What does satisfaction or happiness mean to you?”

That question gave Peter the much needed pause. He realized quickly that these aren’t questions with one-size-fits-all answers.

He reflected, “I guess satisfaction is… maybe feeling content with where I am, not wanting much more?”

I followed up, “When you share that definition, how does it resonate with you?”

Peter admitted, “That makes sense… but I’m not sure I ever feel completely satisfied or happy.”

So I asked, “What about happiness? How would you define happiness for yourself?”

Peter replied, “Happiness feels more like moments of joy or pleasure. But it’s not constant.”

We explored further: “Do you notice any overlap between satisfaction and happiness in your life?”

Peter thought for a moment, “Sometimes. But I wonder if I’m measuring these by my own standards or by what I think I should feel.”

That’s when I asked, “Whose standards do you think you’ve been using?”

Peter’s answer was honest, “Probably a mix—my family’s, society’s, maybe even my colleagues’.”

I invited him to imagine, “If you set aside those external standards, what would satisfaction and happiness look like for you?”

Peter considered, “I’m not sure. Maybe it’s about progress, not perfection.”

We talked about the spectrum of satisfaction: “Is it possible to be fully satisfied or completely unsatisfied?”

Peter said, “Rarely. I think I’m usually somewhere in between.”

Then I asked, “How do you recognize or celebrate progress, even if you’re not fully satisfied?”

Peter paused, “I don’t know. I usually wait until I reach a big goal… but maybe I could notice smaller wins.”

That’s where the shift happened. We further explored questions like:

• What might change for you if you started acknowledging those small wins?
• How do you plan to notice these smaller wins?
• What’s one small thing you could celebrate or appreciate today?
• How does it feel to recognize that achievement?

• Satisfaction and happiness exist on a spectrum.
• Your definitions are unique to you.
• You don’t need to be fully satisfied to celebrate progress.
• Gratitude and appreciation can enhance both happiness and momentum.

Peter left with a new intention: “I’ll start noticing small wins and moments of gratitude every day. It makes the journey itself worth celebrating.”

This session was a powerful reminder: coaching isn’t about giving answers…it’s about helping people find their own. If this resonates with you and you’d like to explore your own definitions of satisfaction and happiness, let’s connect for a complimentary chemistry session here: https://calendly.com/shantisharma/60min.