Happiness vs. Joy

[Cynthetiq]

happiness

\Hap"pi*ness\, n. [From Happy.] 1. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity.

All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! --Shak.

2. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness.

3. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language.

joy

\Joy\, n. [OE. joye, OF. joye, joie, goie, F. joie, L. gaudia, pl. of gaudium joy, fr. gaudere to rejoice, to be glad; cf. Gr. ? to rejoice, ? proud. Cf. Gaud, Jewel.] 1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.

I was reading a journal and I thought about something that I've not thought about in many years. What is happiness? What is joy? I learned young that happiness was temporary and would change depending on positions, viewpoints, options, and choices. Joy was something that lasted a long time, if not could last a lifetime.

Artelevision, I'm sure that you and some others on the TFP have some good light to shine on this topic.

[Fly]

happiness is when you yourself accomplish something/anything

joy is when your children accomplish something/anything

i don't know,that's the way i see it.

[suviko]

joy is something you feel shortly, temporary moment, a passing good feeling. happiness is having that for longer period of time and it is more general, not as much targeted feeling.

[gibber71]

Joy and happiness are nothing more than fleeting figments of our prescribed imagination. heh heh.. That was my attempt to imitate ARtelevision. Sorry,,...no offense intended

[ARTelevision]

I think how you define them would be your call. Of course they have their dictionary definitions.

In my best moments, I see the problem with positive descriptions of our feelings is that they are inevitably alternating with their negative counterparts, eg. unhappiness and sadness. Then the desire for happiness or joy can become a struggle against opposition.

The only state that looks sustainable for a lifetime is acceptance. One comes to see that as a positive thing beyond one-sided descriptions of our feelings.

A continuously non-attached acceptance is for me a joyful life.

[Minx]

If I was said to choose joy or happiness without looking at your definitions Cynthetic I would have said happiness as I would view joy as short-lived and happiness as a long term ideal. Looking at the definitions you gave...
Happiness is described as "good luck"; "an agreeable feeling"; "contentment" while joy is described as "the passion"; "exhiliration of spirits"; "delight"....to me that does sound like happiness is long-lived but not as exciting...while joy is for the moment but stirs the heart more. Which is more important....I think we all need to be happy - it is a fundamental in my eyes to your well being and the type of environment you provide to those around you. But I also think you need the joys in life - you need the highs, the moments that take your breath away and for just that one moment in time everything is perfect.

[madsenj37]

Happiness is what you get. Joy is what you give.

[Easytiger]

Nicely said, madsenj37.

[madsenj37]

Originally posted by Easytiger
Nicely said, madsenj37.

Thank you.