Joy & Happiness

Joy according to Google “joy/joi/noun. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness. E.g "tears of joy."” Happiness according to Google “hap·pi·ness/ˈhapēnəs/noun. The state of being happy. E.g. "she struggled to find happiness in her life."” These distinctions could be neither here nor there, but it’s worth noting.

For me, joy is not initiated by something, whereas happiness is initiated or dependent on something to make it a hilarity. Joy is a hilarity unto itself, in that life itself is a hilarity. Joy is elongated, whereas happiness has a definite beginning and ending and can be abruptly cut short, even though you may want the happiness to last long. A series of happiness can be turned into joy. Thus, the happiness must be intentionally initiated and sustained over a period of time. In other words, happiness can and must be scheduled, if it is to be elongated. Also, sorrow could be part and parcel of joy. Sometimes the route to joy is not so enjoyable or joyous, but a necessity all the same. The finished product of gold into jewelry must go through the fire of refinement. It’s all a process.

I truly believe this to be true - scheduling happiness and turning it into joy. You may ask how you do that exactly. Well, I believe you can derive joy or contentment in almost everything you do. You may not always get the dopamine effect of hilarity immediately, but over time, accumulated, you will. Whatever you do from when you wake up till you go to bed, you can find joy or contentment in it. See it for what it is, if you can’t see it, look for it. Everything you do can be satisfying at some point. Else you wouldn’t be doing it, or you shouldn’t be doing it. Anything that betters you has the elements of joy or what makes you happy or content.

You can also schedule activities that accumulate happiness or contentment faster or quicker, so that you can reach the dopamine effect of hilarity quicker or faster. Make a list of the things that you enjoy or that you think brings you happiness or joy. These things are not necessarily dependent on lone incidents or persons, but could involve interactions with incidents or persons. Schedule these things on the list with more frequency. For example, list the things that brought you the most joy in the past few years. Schedule them on your calendar monthly or weekly. Break them down into small doses, and have at it. These things or activities will bring you joy or happiness, eventually, no matter.

Yes, there might be things that perhaps were once in a lifetime experience, so you may argue that you cannot do it again. But is that true, how so? Almost all experiences can be replicated in one shape or form. Also keep in mind, no experience is ever the same. The person who had that last experience is now a different person seeking a new experience. So experiences are truly never the same.

What are your thoughts on the above? What do you call Joy? What is Happiness to you? Please share!

Quote of the Week:

“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn

Book of the Month:

“Reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body.” - Joseph Addison

Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, Ozan Varol. (A classic. Thinking out of the box).

#lifestyle #habits #change