There's a Difference. . .

(After being asked: Do you have anything else to say about the 'joy' post?)

It's easy to alter and adjust the definitions of words so that they mean what we want them to. Well, here are the definitions of the words happy and joy according to Oxford Languages.

Happy (adj.) - a feeling or showing pleasure or contentment; fortunate and convienent.

Joy (noun) - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Can I share what joy means to me? Like I said, we like to adjust words. To me, joy is an unlimited source of supply that has the power to repeatedly radiate through us. But I'm not the only one who alters definitions.

Christopher Benek says that "Happiness is an emotion in which we "experience feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense pleasure," whereas joy "is a stronger, less common feeling than happiness." We experience joy when we achieve selflessness to the point of personal sacrifice. We feel joy when we are spiritually connected to God or people."

While the definitions of these two terms contain similar parts, they are quite different. The word happy is an adjective. An adjective is a word that tells what kind, which one, or how many; an adjectives describes. (The inner teacher in me is geeked as I type this.) So while thinking about being happy, it's possible to describe what's responsible for making us happy. For example: I am happy because I am going shopping with my friend today, or I am happy because my child passed a spelling test. In return, you may show your friend that you thank them for their time by paying for their lunch. You may smile or hug your child to show him that you are happy because of his accomplishment. Actions, plans, and events all have the potential to make us show others a form happiness. Temporarily, that is. But what happens after the shopping is done? What happens after getting in the car to drive home alone because you and your friend drove seperately? What happens after the bag of new clothes ends up on the floor and isn't touched until a month later? Does the same ray of happiness that orgianally existed continue to exist as time passes?

It is easy to allow 'things' to make us happy, but to shift our process of thinking serves a far greater reward. Instead of focusing on being happy to go shopping, focus on the people who you may encounter while shopping. Be cautious in your response to the associate who wants to help. Be cautious of your facial expressions when passing someone who looks differently than you. Be mindful of your choice of words when responding, as they may be life or death to your friend - who just may have had an extremely difficult week; however, dressed up, met, and made everything look fine. When we shift our process of thinking and operate accordingly, we now work towards a different spirit. It is now possible for your reaction to your child to be the same when he brings home a score of 50% as it would when he brings home a score of 100%. Hug the child regardless! (Then make him write the spelling words he missed 5 times each). It is now possible to think about how the associate smiled only because you responded and included the words 'thank you'. Get this, sometimes the fulfillment doesn't intitally stem from our thinking, but comes from the person we affected. It is now possible to receive a text message from your friend saying how much the time spent meant and how you helped brighten their week by simply being compassionate and present. And sometimes the confirmation isn't verbal. You may never see that person you passed who looked differently than you again in your life, but because you decided to smile at them, they are more inspired to continue their journey of building self esteem. Non-verbal confirmation doesn't stop your kindness from serving it's true purpose. Maybe you didn't see or hear it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. These things can bring you internal joy. Take a look at the previous paragrah and look at the bolded words. The definition of the word joy doesn't mention the word show. You don't need to show your joy, you need only to feel it!

The word joy is noun. *In my first grade teacher voice* A noun is a person, place, or thing. The word thing hits differently, though. A 'thing' is constant. You can have control over it and allow yourself to have as little or much of it as you want. It can always be there. And the best part about this thing (joy) is that nobody can take it away from you. Joy doesn't depend on an event, someone, something else, or happenings. Joy is internal. Joy just is.

There's a difference between. . . We can show happiness but we can't stop there. We need moments of joy to carry us through life. Moments that serve as constant reminders for us to continue to be cautious in our lives. Every chance we get we will try, we will push, we will hope, and we will pray that we serve with reason and purpose in the spirit of love.

Live a life that produces joy.

Christie