Pleasure vs. Happiness: Why the Difference Matters
I used to think pleasure and happiness were the same thing. More pleasure equals more happiness. Simple math. Then I noticed something odd. Some of my most pleasurable experiences left me feeling empty afterward. A great meal, an exciting night out, even good sex — the pleasure was real, but it didn’t stick around. Sometimes I felt worse the next day. Meanwhile, some of my happiest periods involved very little intense pleasure....