Chew on this for a sec:
Joy and happiness are wonderful feelings to feel, but also very different.
- Happiness tends to be externally triggered and based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events.
- Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally.
We want ’em both, right?
Only, one of them is decidedly more valuable than the other, and comes from a very different place. So, it’s prolly good to solidly get the difference.
Weighing in: Happy
How do you measure happiness?
Simple: Happiness connects with your circumstances. When things go our way, we’re happy.
So, just ask yourself at any given time…
How do my current circumstances and surroundings make me feel?
That’s your happy scale.
Or happiometer. Yeah, I like that better.
Weighing in: Joy
Also simple. But not necessarily intuitive.
It turns out, joy connects with practicing gratitude, in any circumstance.
A couple of solid nuggets supporting this concept from my reading this morning:
And also:
No time for a deep dive today, so I’ll just leave it at that for now.
Connecting a few, final dots…
- You can be both happy and joyful. (obviously)
- You can be happy, but not have joy. (not advised)
- You can be unhappy, and still have joy. (recommended)
- A key ingredient in #3 is practicing gratitude. Intentionally. Daily. And not just for the big things in life—for every little thing. Even the obstacles, the “bad stuff” you find yourself facing.
- You can ignite gratitude inside you by choosing to focus on a truer, more life-giving, and eternal perspective, no matter your circumstances.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie
Later, taters…
—Memento Mori, Memento Aeternum
PS: FYI the “she” and “her” in these excerpts is referencing research professor Brené Brown, and the book I clipped these from is On Fire by John O’Leary—which I strongly recommend for anyone who digs compelling stories, powerful lessons and life-changing insights.
It’s, quite literally, the only book that has moved me to tears multiple times while reading it.
Not that I’m against crying or don’t think it’s manly or something. Books just don’t ever have that effect on me. Ever, really. This book is different, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
You know, if you’re into that kind of thing.
PPS: I kept hearing Ren and Stimpy in my head the whole time I was writing this. Anyone else?
—JP
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