What is the difference between joy and happiness? And more importantly: can both be achieved?

What do you want most out of life? We have been asked this question many times, and on many occasions. For many of us, the answer is simple: to live a happy life. We want to achieve happiness. But why don’t we answer: to live a joyful life? Or to be entertained? Although the terms happiness and joy are very similar and may even fall under the same category, so some confuse them, they evoke different feelings within us.

What is the difference between joy and happiness?

Joy - according to the definition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary - is the feeling resulting from well-being, success, good fortune, or by having what we want. While happiness is defined as a state of contentment and peace after a pleasant or satisfying experience. However, this remains a theoretical definition, while determining what happiness and joy mean personally in our lives is the practical definition. Joy is a feeling.. or a light that fills your heart.. penetrates your body to leave a wonderful feeling, and does not include any expectations.

Happiness - which is also a feeling - is usually accompanied by a thought, a destination, or an experience. As a result, it tends to have a deeper impact on our subconscious. When our expectations are not met, it affects our happiness in all areas of our lives. There are many ways to find happiness and joy and how we can achieve both in our lives. But first, let’s bring it back to the very reason we live – or as we know it, our purpose in life.

Defining our purpose in life

We are supposed to have many purposes in life, not just one, which we find within our passions and the things that make us feel alive. As we continue to gain experience in our careers, relationships, partnerships, and daily living, our purpose may begin to change. It may shift in a completely different direction, but the purpose that keeps us aligned with our values ​​is the key to understanding what makes us happy. With that in mind, we need to learn about the different visions of joy and happiness, and how they intertwine in our lives.

How do we see joy and happiness?

Happiness is the destination; joy is the behavior

Pause for a moment and visualize the life you want. This is what guides you. Is freedom and travel important to you? Or is it the stability and comfort of having loved ones around you? Or do you dream of living in a cozy cottage in Europe surrounded by a lush green courtyard? What about working for a Fortune 500 company in New York City?

Whatever your vision, don’t ignore it. Your vision is a destination, and the destination is the key to understanding where your happiness comes from and how you get there. One way to differentiate happiness from joy is to think of happiness as the end goal or destination, while joy is the “milestones” that lead to the end goal.

Happiness and joy go hand in hand

Happiness is like bubbles: exhilarating but fleeting, while joy is the oxygen that is always there. – Danielle LaPorte Sometimes, we place high hopes on the concept of “happiness” and expect it to come to us in the most grandiose ways. The truth is, we will never be happy unless we experience joy. Gratitude is a way to see joy in the little things. There are many ways to practice gratitude, such as journaling and the art of ignoring, all with the intention of putting things in perspective.

I would love to read how you can write to shape your day.

Looking at the big picture can be destructive (sometimes we get caught up in the negatives). Take some time to reflect on the small things that make a big difference in our world, such as having clean water or having a car to get you to and from work. We often go through life without taking a second to think, “What if we didn’t have these luxuries?” The more you experience gratitude, the easier it is to see the simple joys in our daily lives.

Life is divided into the things we can control and the things we can’t. To truly live is to learn how to move on when you’re no longer in control of some aspects of your life. According to a report in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , “autonomy”—defined as “the feeling that your life activities and habits are the result of your personal choices”—is the number one contributor to happiness. When it comes to happiness, we sometimes feel stuck in those moments where we assume that happiness depends on having “this.”

When I have more money, I’ll be happy.

When I have more time, I’ll be happy.

When I buy a house, I’ll be happy.

We all know that not everything you wish for comes true, and that life acts unpredictably, where money doesn’t come easily and “more time” is hard to come by. Note that money, time, and a home are things we can control.

But what about things we can’t control, like a breakup or the death of a loved one?Well, there is no denying that these moments have a huge impact on us, as we realize that as humans we cannot control everything that happens in our lives. However, we can control the outcomes. In other words: there are still ways to spark joy within us (even in the darkest moments). With death, you celebrate the memory and life of that person. Sharing their stories keeps them alive within you, and from these stories comes your sense of love. Love, joy, and gratitude are mutually reinforcing emotions.

Breaking up is hard, because we are going down a rabbit hole (what we should have done differently and what we did). However, you can still feel joy even when you are thinking about your divorce/separation, by appreciating the little things that bring joy to your daily life, whether it is a cup of coffee, a morning workout, or painting. All of these emotions that you can feel regardless of your situation.

You can still feel joy (even if you are not happy or in an unhappy place)

Some of my best years at work were when I was working on something that did not quite match my interests. I enjoyed the company of my colleagues, and I can say that working in a restaurant gave me tremendous stamina! What does this have to do with happiness and joy? You can still feel joy through your actions because your actions are what align with your values.

By talking to customers, I realized that I found joy in human connection. Through effective teamwork, I enjoyed being surrounded by a close-knit community. My appreciation for work ethics was what kept me accountable to my boss. You can find these hidden things when you step away from the big picture. Once you realize how your actions play a role in your “joy,” you will begin to realize that happiness is just a destination that holds you accountable for your goals.

In conclusion, joy and happiness exist for an important purpose: to live a fulfilling life. Life factors and situations will always influence our view of happiness and joy, but life should be lived and enjoyed simply.