Joy vs. Happiness

What is the difference between




It can be argued that happiness is merely an acute object whereas joy is chronic. We spend so much time focusing on negative that I am sure you thought…acute vs. chronic. Disease! No! I am really just talking about a measurement of time. It would appear these two states of being are differentiated by the measurement of time.

The acute state of a pleasant feeling: happiness. Merriam-Webster describes this as a state of being happy, or an experience that make you happy. A state is only for a state of time though. This is a temporary feeling. Another can argue that, “happiness is a warm gun…” like in the Huffington post article of 99 definitions of happiness. I believe this was also a Beatles song? That warm gun is only warm for a period of time though, right? After a while it will be too hot to shoot! That is also a satisfying feeling! The feeling only lasts for an inkling of time though. I digress…

The chronic state of joy is a feeling of happiness over time. Long term happiness. As Merriam Webster states this as success in doing something, finding something, maybe even reaching that goal you have been fighting so hard for. Joy is an element of wellbeing. C.S. Lewis goes on to declare, “It jumps under one’s ribs and tickles down one’s back and makes one forget meals and keeps one (delightedly) sleepless o’ nights. It shocks one awake when the other puts one to sleep. My private table is one second of joy is worth 12 hours of Pleasure.” One second of joy is work twelve hours of pleasure. It’s true. We won’t perseverate on this any longer going on to define pleasure though.

This is just something to think about on your Sunday.

So I leave you with the clock that only measured time backwards from one of my favorite movies, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.  

I think it goes without saying that most of us would love to relive moments of great happiness where the mere thought brings a smile to our faces.

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