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Difference between Joy and Happiness

Difference between Joy and Happiness

If you don’t know the difference between Joy and Happiness and use it interchangeably then read out an article to understand them individually.

Joy and happiness are wonderful feelings of experience but are very different from one another. Joy is stronger, less common feeling than happiness. Joy is spiritually connected to a god or people whereas happiness is the state of well being, a pleasurable and satisfying experience.

To understand both the terms better, let us read the article and understand the terms individually.

Joy

Joy is defined as intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness or the expression of such feelings. Joy comes from the inner self of a person and is connecting with the source of life within you. Joy warms the person’s heart and is long lasting. Joy is caused by overall happiness and soul-satisfying incidents. Joy is a byproduct of a moral lifestyle.

Joy is the sudden burst of happiness. Joy is like the elevator in that building that takes you up to higher levels of happiness only for a small amount of time and back. Joy is an attitude of the heart and spirit, present inside of us as an untapped reservoir of potential.

Happiness

Happiness is a response to happenstance, contentment, good luck, prosperity, or good fortune. Happiness is also a reaction to pleasure; one can be happy when eating ice cream, reading a good book, receiving a promotion at work, or experiencing anything pleasurable. Happiness is a result of something that is outside of you and gained by observing or doing that particular thing.

Happiness spreads through relationships like friends, siblings, partners, neighbors etc. Happiness may be momentary, as it is a result of short-term contentment and happiness simply pleases a person.

Now let’s check the difference between Joy and Happiness for better understanding.

Meaning

Meaning of joy is gladness or delight while the happiness means satisfaction or pleasure.

Analogy

Joy is a sudden burst of happiness while happiness is the state.

Emotion

Joy is inward peace and contentment while happiness is the outward expression of elation.