The Big Difference Between Joy and Happiness

Frequently these two words are used as one and the same.  While they do share some characteristics, joy and happiness are actually very different. Happiness is very much an emotion. It's something that we can see on the outside and is usually directly related to circumstances that are currently happening.  So when the circumstances are good and going our way, we feel happy.  On the other hand, when things break, get old, disappoint, we feel sad and unhappy.

Joy is something entirely different. Joy, is not an emotion.  Joy is a perspective on life and how we recognize situations that occur.  Whether our life is going great or not so great, we can still experience true joy.

Happiness is something that is temporary. Joy is something that lasts.

We make an effort to stay joyful despite our circumstances,  but there are certain things that have the potential to steal our joy.

Here are two main things that rob us of joyful lives:

1) Failing to live in the present.

A lot of people live in the regrets of the past and things that didn’t go so well in their life. Others live in the future and worry about what might happen. Living in the present and recognizing the good in situations is essential for being joyful.

2) Hanging around negative people.

People who are constantly negative, critical or always playing the comparison game are toxic to be around.

Here are some things you can try out to bring more joy into your life:

• Create a gratitude list. Recognize the things that you are thankful for and the blessings that God has put in our life. Focusing on these things rather than the things that steal your joy can be very helpful.
• Smile more. This might sound a bit odd, but it's been proven that if you actually smile more, it will lift your spirit and help you become more joyful.

What do you do to bring more joy into your life?

Content from Faith Matters: Mike Foster Fox 5 San Diego