Joy Vs. Happiness: What’s The Difference?

Is there a difference between happiness and joy?

Happiness and joy are closely related but distinct concepts. Joy is defined as “a feeling of extreme gladness or delight arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction,” while happiness is defined as “an emotion of joy, gladness, satisfaction, and well-being.” Joy can be considered a subset of happiness; most happy people experience joy in their lives. 

Joy is also commonly thought of as short-lived, whereas happiness often refers to a more persistent state of good well-being. Even if a person doesn’t consider themselves happy overall, they may experience moments of joy. Conversely, those who consider themselves happy probably recognize and experience more joyful occurrences in their lives. 

How can one achieve happiness and joy?

Achieving joy and happiness looks different for everybody, but there are some common themes many discover as they strive to feel joy and live a happy life. Finding happiness usually means engaging in critical self-examination and changing how you view and engage with the world around you. Finding more instances of joy often starts by increasing positive thinking, which can open you up to positive experiences in your life and make it easier to manage external factors that threaten happiness. 

Joyful moments can be ignored or dismissed, and doing so may come at the cost of long-term happiness. Being receptive to positivity is likely an important part of achieving joy and happiness. Below are a few other evidence-based ways to increase happiness in your life: 

• Work on letting go. People tend to focus more on things that make them happy as they age. The realization that life is short and happiness fleeting pushes many people to focus more intently on positive things and let go of things that make them unhappy. You don’t have to wait for age to teach this lesson; you can immediately start letting go of past failures, unpleasant realities, or things beyond your control. 

• Connect with your community. The largest study of happiness ever conducted in the United States found that one of the key tenets of happiness was likely maintaining strong, healthy relationships. Consider prioritizing close relationships and engaging in volunteer opportunities to bring joy to others in your community through an outward expression of happiness. 

• Focus on the present. Daily life can be hectic, and while a future-focused mindset can help avoid problems and achieve goals, it may make joy and happiness harder to notice. Try to balance how often you think about the future and take time to notice small joys in the present. A loving touch from a partner, a beautiful sunset, or the taste of your favorite food are all great present-focused sources of joy. 

Is it better to have joy or happiness in the context of joy vs. happiness?

Although joy and happiness are separate concepts, having one without the other is difficult. Joy typically refers to short-lived feelings of elation and gratitude, while happiness often refers to a more stable, long-term concept. Experiencing joyful moments is likely important to developing long-term happiness, but happiness also depends on other factors that must be considered. Persistent happiness often requires self-improvement and conscious effort, and much of that effort may be dedicated to intentionally noticing and experiencing moments of joy. 

It may be possible to feel happiness without experiencing joy or to feel joy without being consistently happy, but deciding which one is better is up to each person. Ultimately, most people would likely agree that both joy and happiness are important, and striving for happiness likely means incorporating joy into their lived experiences. 

What is happiness and how can it be achieved?

Happiness is defined as “an emotion of joy, gladness, satisfaction, and well-being.” That definition is noticeably broad and is interpreted differently from person to person. Many people consider happiness to be synonymous with high life satisfaction and contentment. It is frequently represented as a long-term state, as opposed to an emotion like delight, commonly considered a short-lived reaction. 

The path to long-term happiness looks different for everybody, but there are several common themes that people often encounter when striving for happiness. Insights from the longest-running study on happiness in the United States indicate that avoiding loneliness is likely one of the most important factors for obtaining happiness. 

Loneliness is associated with numerous physical and mental health concerns that significantly lower overall well-being. In contrast, strong interpersonal relationships are associated with greater happiness, positivity, and optimism. Many people focus on self-improvement tasks when increasing happiness, like increasing self-esteem and developing a positive mindset, but it may be worthwhile to consider expanding and strengthening social connections as well.  

Is joy deeper than happiness, and what is the difference between happiness and joy?

Joy is often referred to as a short-lived emotion that appears when someone experiences something that induces elation, gratitude, or satisfaction. On the other hand, happiness is often referred to as a long-term state of contentment and positive well-being. It may appear that happiness is deeper than joy, but it is likely possible that happiness and joy can both be shallow or deep. 

For example, some joyful experiences are highly impactful, like giving birth. Some simple joys, such as enjoying nature’s beauty and other earthly experiences, might not be as deep, but they can significantly contribute to happiness. Other joys might be simple but deep, like engaging in one’s faith.  Similarly, happiness can be deep or shallow. Many people find some degree of happiness in material objects or other concepts that few would likely consider deep, and many others find happiness in deep concepts like close personal relationships. 

What is important in achieving happiness?

Many things are important in achieving happiness, and everyone’s journey to happiness will likely have different factors considered especially important. However, one could argue that one of the most important things to do is to disregard the search for happiness in favor of more concrete objectives. 

Researchers recognize an effect known as the “happiness paradox.” The paradox states that the more focused a person becomes on achieving happiness, the less likely they are to achieve it. The issue arises from the nature of the goal. Focusing on happiness and satisfaction may seem like an obvious choice, but the goal is likely too broad and difficult to attain directly. 

Evidence suggests that the happiness paradox can be avoided by focusing on concrete, achievable goals. Things like increasing self-esteem, improving positive thinking, engaging in social activities, and learning new skills will likely increase happiness, even if they aren’t directly connected to it.  

Can you have joy without happiness?

Joy often refers to short-term feelings of great delight, whereas happiness often refers to long-term feelings of contentment and satisfaction. It is likely possible to feel joy, even great joy, without being someone who considers themself happy. It is also possible that someone experiences happiness inconsistently. Oscillating between extreme happiness and despair is sometimes found in some mental disorders, but those individuals are likely still capable of experiencing joy. 

It is likely that taking time to practice joy significantly contributes to feelings of long-term happiness, but it is possible to be happy without being consistently joyful. However, true joy is likely necessary to some degree to be happy; it is unlikely someone can be consistently happy without experiencing any joy whatsoever. 

Why are joy and happiness important?

Joy and happiness are important to maintaining high life satisfaction and overall well-being. Taking time to find joy in the world around you will likely increase long-term happiness, which can significantly reduce the impact of adverse events that might detract from stability or well-being. Although there are many other factors associated with high life satisfaction, happiness correlates with many of them, and several of the factors that drive satisfaction also contribute significantly to happiness. 

Happiness tends to make it easier to achieve goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The absence of joy and happiness can be considered burdensome; it is likely more challenging to “push through” difficult life circumstances without feeling happiness or anticipation of joy. Furthermore, an absence of happiness may lead to circumstances that compound unhappiness and lack of pure joy, such as social isolation, which can significantly impact a person’s mental and physical health.

More questions about happiness and joy

What is the difference between happiness and contentment?

Happiness is often a fleeting feeling of pleasure or excitement, while contentment is a more profound, lasting sense of peace and satisfaction with life.

What are the key distinctions between happiness and joy?

Happiness is usually tied to external events or achievements, whereas joy is a more enduring, internal feeling that often comes from a sense of purpose or gratitude.

How do joy vs. happiness impact our overall well-being differently?

While happiness can temporarily boost our mood, joy tends to foster long-term emotional resilience and a deeper sense of fulfillment.