Happiness. Joy.
Joy. Happiness.
Have you ever stopped to consider the difference between happiness and joy? Can two terms generally understood to be the same be, in fact, very different? Winning a lottery. Dancing in the rain. A warm puppy. Falling in love. Welcoming a newborn child to the world. An A+ on the calculus exam. These all seem to be feelings comprised of varying degrees of pleasure, contentment, and satisfaction. However, can they be separated into happiness or joy? How do we distinguish between them? Though they are divided by a fine line, there still is a line, and it is more distinct than one might think. According to the majority of dictionaries, joy is a dictionary definition for happiness, but feelings of happiness and joy …show more content…
Listening to music, or publishing your first musical composition. Receiving a puppy for Christmas, or watching the dog you rescued transform from skin and bones to full of life. Happiness? Joy? Both? When asked what they ultimately want to get out of life, many will say, “I just want to be happy.” However, after recognizing the transitory nature of happiness, one might wonder if the word joy should be used instead. This three letter word is often confused with happiness, though the emotions they inspire in us are sometimes worlds apart. Though related, happiness generally comes from outside forces, while joy comes from inside, the center of the inner self—whether the heart, the soul, or the spirit. Joy might be described as a deeper and stronger, but a less common experience than happiness. While happiness is about the pleasures of the self, joy instead, connects us with others and perhaps even forces greater than us. Joy, unlike happiness which pleases for a short amount of time, originates from within, from internal factors, lasting longer. Joy can come from giving, not receiving. It comes from seeking something outside ourselves, from being grateful, or from spiritual experience. Some may find joy bringing a child up in the world. Some may find joy through their religions and faiths in a greater being. Some find joy deeply enclosed in the folds of nature. Some find joy exercising their creativity. Others may find joy through helping people, seeing their smiles of gratitude. Even as the world crumbles apart around him, he who is joyful, can still retain a positive outlook. While happiness is manifested on the outside, joy is felt through a deeper, true contentment and peace, or even an indescribable, fulfilling feeling of elation. Happiness comes and goes on the external whims of life, but joy can be independent of life’s situations and circumstances as
Joy. Happiness.
Have you ever stopped to consider the difference between happiness and joy? Can two terms generally understood to be the same be, in fact, very different? Winning a lottery. Dancing in the rain. A warm puppy. Falling in love. Welcoming a newborn child to the world. An A+ on the calculus exam. These all seem to be feelings comprised of varying degrees of pleasure, contentment, and satisfaction. However, can they be separated into happiness or joy? How do we distinguish between them? Though they are divided by a fine line, there still is a line, and it is more distinct than one might think. According to the majority of dictionaries, joy is a dictionary definition for happiness, but feelings of happiness and joy …show more content…
Listening to music, or publishing your first musical composition. Receiving a puppy for Christmas, or watching the dog you rescued transform from skin and bones to full of life. Happiness? Joy? Both? When asked what they ultimately want to get out of life, many will say, “I just want to be happy.” However, after recognizing the transitory nature of happiness, one might wonder if the word joy should be used instead. This three letter word is often confused with happiness, though the emotions they inspire in us are sometimes worlds apart. Though related, happiness generally comes from outside forces, while joy comes from inside, the center of the inner self—whether the heart, the soul, or the spirit. Joy might be described as a deeper and stronger, but a less common experience than happiness. While happiness is about the pleasures of the self, joy instead, connects us with others and perhaps even forces greater than us. Joy, unlike happiness which pleases for a short amount of time, originates from within, from internal factors, lasting longer. Joy can come from giving, not receiving. It comes from seeking something outside ourselves, from being grateful, or from spiritual experience. Some may find joy bringing a child up in the world. Some may find joy through their religions and faiths in a greater being. Some find joy deeply enclosed in the folds of nature. Some find joy exercising their creativity. Others may find joy through helping people, seeing their smiles of gratitude. Even as the world crumbles apart around him, he who is joyful, can still retain a positive outlook. While happiness is manifested on the outside, joy is felt through a deeper, true contentment and peace, or even an indescribable, fulfilling feeling of elation. Happiness comes and goes on the external whims of life, but joy can be independent of life’s situations and circumstances as