Bust: Joy is different from ‘happy’. Happiness is nice, but it doesn’t last. It is a fleeting moment brought on by something internal or external. It’s a smile from a stranger, a moment of peace, achieving something you’ve worked towards, a dance with a loved one… something that makes you feel loved, or complete, or happy for that moment. But those who constantly seek ‘happiness’ are doomed to never find it because it is simply a feeling in a moment which passes all too quickly. It cannot be held onto or grasped.
Joy, on the other hand, is a deeper, core feeling which can last and grow regardless of the situation internally or externally.
Joy can occur in the strangest of places – in the midst of grief, one can experience joy for having known someone you loved who is now gone. But you wouldn’t say you are ‘happy’ in that moment. Joy can be felt after having faced an ordeal which may have been harrowing, and you are spent, but the outcome was worth it. This is often experienced as a deep sense of satisfaction and simply joy in one’s heart. You can be happy, but not necessarily.
Happiness is very human. It is how we express in a moment when things are going well, when our small needs are being met. It is sweet and makes us feel good for a moment. It’s a fun thing to have.
Joy endures. It is felt in your heart and comes from something greater than yourself. It can be found in union with the Divine, in oneness with All That Is. It is eternal in its presence.
Both are a choice. We are in charge of whether we experience joy or happiness. And you can feel both joy and happiness at the same time. But joy is not dependent on happiness.
~ with love from Belinda
