Happiness Versus Joy
As I woke up this morning, stretched and yawned I took a look outside. Overcast. What a surprise. All we have been getting lately is overcast skies, 60 degree weather and lots of rain. By the way – did I tell you it’s almost July! So far this summer is starting off badly.
Yesterday I took the kids to a summer festival – one we have attended for 4 years. It has always been hot and beautiful. But yesterday we had cloudy skies, drizzle and 63 degrees. Really? I was complaining about the weather – how miserable it was and how it was making me so unhappy. After a 30 second pause I heard the same sentiments coming from my children’s mouths. I realized then that I needed to stop and spin this for them…and for me. Needless to say we all had a great time regardless of the weather.
So back to this morning…I came downstairs, let the kids watch cartoons, poured myself some coffee, got my computer and sat outside. (Which is where I am now.) Being overcast didn’t bring the cold this time. A nice temperature today. The neighborhood is very quiet. I can hear the wind rustling through the trees, our American Flag is gently blowing, the birds are chirping and the crickets are singing. I took a very deep breathe and I felt true happiness. That happiness only lasted though for a few moments – until my kids were yelling about who got to sit where – but I still felt good inside.
My friend had said that there was a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness was fleeting and you were never happy all of the time. But joy – now that was something that you can always have.
So it started me thinking about the differences and if what she said was true. So I did an online search and found that there are many different answers. But this site explained it the best:
Happiness
I’ve devoted a whole page to trying to pin down a definition of happiness . And it seems there is not one standard definition.
A number of the dictionary definitions seem to link happiness to good fortune and luck. But the overall theme seems to descibe a state of feeling happy, delighted or contented about something.
There also seems to be some consensus regarding the difference between happiness and joy in terms of duration. Happiness seems to be considered as being more of a temporary nature.
It seems too that the word happiness is often associated with an outward expression of the inner feeling. In other words, someone who is happy displays their happiness through their conduct – through a smile or a delighted facial expression, by what they say, or how they jump up and down, like when they’ve won a prize or passed their final exams.
One can get carried away trying to spell out precisely the difference between happiness and joy – as if it is so important(?). Science and medicine would probably define happiness in terms of hormones and brain chemistry.
So, here’s my own short-and-sweet definition of happiness:
Happiness is the experience of feeling good.
Joy
There seem to be a few different interpretations of what the word joy means too. Some suggest that it indicates a greater degree of ‘happiness’ – the next notch up from happiness. Yet others describe joy as being extreme happiness, keen pleasure, ecstasy.
Other sources say that joy comes from within while happiness is triggered by external events. And it is also often indicated that there is a more religious or spiritual flavour to the word joy than there is with happiness. It’s as if happiness is more ‘wordly’ while joy is seen to be more sacred in nature.
So there is room for interpretation but my opinion is that my friend was spot on. I totally agree with her. Joy is internal and it is also something that is spiritual and is based on faith.
Remember seeing bumper stickers proclaiming every conceivable source for happiness? One said, “Happiness is being married;” another countered, “Happiness is being single.” One cynical sticker read, “Happiness is impossible!”
For most people happiness is possible, but it’s also fickle, shallow, and fleeting. As the Word itself implies, happiness is associated with happenings, happenstance, luck, and fortune. If circumstances are favorable, you are happy; if not, you’re unhappy.
Christian joy, however, is directly related to God and is the firm confidence that all is well, regardless of your circumstances.
www.studyjesus.com/more/devos/joyvshappy.htm
Brooke has been a part of the WAHI family since March 2009 writing articles for the WAHM Wisdom section. She has had her own business since 1997, – Cataluña – web sites redesigned from scratch. Her newest business venture is Cataluña Designs – unique beaded hair accessories and jewelry- has been around since January 2010 and has been a great adventure.
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