Happiness Versus Joy
By: Bernadette Decarlo
Tags: Life Lessons, Illumination, Loss, Worship, Spiritual

Happiness Versus Joy

What’s the difference

Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash

“The healthiest response to life is joy.” Mark Twain

I have been reading a lot about happiness. But not much about joy. Most people want to be happy. Looking and searching for the magic pill. Even a famous song, “Happy,” made us all want to sing and dance. But why are we searching for happiness? Because things that make us happy have an external object or emotion attached to them. Ex: A brand new car that has all the bells and whistles attached to it until someone rams into you. Now, are you happy?

I have contemplated the differences between joy and happiness. I enjoy being happy. But in my maturity, I prefer to be joyous.

Happiness comes from outside yourself, while joy from within, and with this attitude of joy, the person is in a state of grace. Joy extends happiness. It is a continuous state of happiness and positive emotion. It is not merely a fleeting thing, like happiness. Google.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Theodore Roosevelt

When I was a young lady, I spent a lot of my time comparing myself to other women. It was an insecurity thing. One day a girlfriend of mine said try complimenting the person you compare yourself to; it will make you feel better. And it did. From that day on, I make it a point to compliment women. It always brings a smile to the person, and it empowers me.

“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” Richard Wagner.

As I matured, I could get most of the financial things I wanted, a new home and a new car. And even the summer home and vacations twice a year.

Because I grew up in the projects and viewed as the lower class, I thought of the material things I wanted. And because of the cruel society that called me everything but a child of God because I went against the grain with race and teenage pregnancy back in the 1960s labeled me as someone that would achieve nothing.

That motivated by consciousness to create all these things I thought would make me happy. It did but, it was all fleeting. And with many things comes the obligation of taking care of them. It becomes a burden.

Matthew 6:19–21

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. For where your treasure, is there your heart will be as well.

Because I am downsizing to a smaller home and I started unpacking an accumulation of things out of my closets that are dusted, with memories of a consciousness that no longer exists. That gave me the idea to write this story.

My worship has been to find joy. I have noted many times about the loss of my immediate family members that have brought me to the shedding of an old consciousness. That old consciousness that in my youth desired material things. And not just the presence of my family.

I’m not an authority on finding joy, and I could go on google and give you many experts who say this and that. But it will not do much good because the journey is an individual one. God has given us everything to search for internal joy at our disposal.

We all know thoughts are things, and we are the architect of our lives. And if you don’t like seeing yourself in your creation, re-design them. That is your inherited power through the law of cause and effect.

Bible Verses about Joy 1. Joy is not an emotion that can be forced, fabricated, or faked. 2. Joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. 3. Joy is possible when we feel secure in the Lord. 4. Joy comes when we have a clear direction for our life. 5. Joy comes when we live in God’s presence. 6. Joy comes when we spend our life Praising God.

But I think if you prefer joy, enter the chambers of your mind and spirit. And a devoted practice of communion with your God. And a ritual of thanksgiving and prayer because you can’t bull-shit the one who has created joy.