Happiness vs. Joy

There have been many times in my life when I have felt happy. For example, when I got to eat a whole bunch of chocolate ice cream over the summer. Or, when my friends gave me kind notes and small gifts last Valentine’s Day. But, did you know that there is something even better than happiness? It’s called joy. 

In today’s society, people often confuse joy with happiness. To be clear, they are NOT SYNONYMS. Happiness is fleeting. It makes you feel good for a second, but then it goes away. Not only that, but happiness is external. It doesn’t come from inside of you, but from events around you. In contrast, joy is a state of mind and an attitude. Joy is of the soul and endures in the face of adversity. Joy directly connects with your purpose and allows you to see the best version of yourself. Joy does not result from happiness and happiness does not cause joy. An interesting way of thinking about this concept is this: You can choose and live joy, but you can only feel happiness.   

As a student, it is okay to have not known the difference. I didn’t really know the difference up until this year. But, now that you know, you should always strive to find joy. Joy is what will keep you going on those hard school days. Not only that, but joy allows you to be the best, authentic version of yourself. 

Understanding the difference between happiness and joy will determine how you will be able to best live out your life. It is even better to understand this concept as a student because it will help you make good decisions earlier in life—an advantage many people don’t have. 

“...Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss joy is to miss all” - Robert Louis Stevenson. 

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