“Is happiness a lesser version of joy, or something totally different? I’d argue it’s different and not only because it’s more prevalent. Many more things can cause happiness than joy. Also, happiness is somewhat within our control. We can create it through our decisions. Joy happens to you. It’s unruly. You submit to it. It usually comes as a surprise, as it did every morning with our newborns
…Certain experiences lift you out of yourself. They enable you to exist fully in the moment. (A singular serving of French toast in my late teens on the corner of 62nd and Lex at Burger Heaven; Christmas 1963, when Skippy, our first dog, popped out of a box pocked with ventilation holes.)
…What distinguishes joy is that it doesn’t come around that often. Indeed, you’re rather aware of its perishability, its evanescence, even when you’re in the midst of it.
…But it may be the thing that unites French toast and lifting a newborn out of its crib in the morning and bringing the child into bed with you. I’m not necessarily talking about one-on-one love, but the universal, John Lennon “All you need is…” variety that connects us to something beyond ourselves, and seems to be floating out there…
…We spend the majority of our lives worrying, even when we’re happy. We’re worried about catching the bus or subway or whether there’s a cab that isn’t off duty; we’re worried about our work; we’re worried we offended somebody; we’re worried about money; we’re worried about sleep; we’re worried about being worried.
…If there’s any dread, it’s in the way we create barriers, denying ourselves access to it (joy) more frequently.”
~ Ralph Gardner, Joy Spills Over, Wall Street Journal (Excerpts)
Sources: Image – BJLove. Quote: Wall Street Journal
Live & Learn 
Interesting, David. I had never really parsed the distinction before…. Wishing you a happy day, with a dollop of joy for good measure… 😉
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Nor did I Lori. But Gardner makes very good points. Loved his article. Have a good day
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Thank you for the reminder to live and create from joy as opposed to doubt and fear!
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Hi Priti. Thank you. Hope you are doing well.
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I reckon joy and happiness is one and the same thing, something that exists on a spectrum of the same essential emotion: happiness through to joy.
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Hi Alex. I thought so too. The author in the full article makes a compelling case for the difference. I’m with him on this thinking.
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Joy is the triuph its the energy of moment..a bubble ..a giggle..a look in the eye..a smile that doesn’t lie..it is a moment celebrated inside a soul with heart and mind together. Happiness is the subtle feeling that last longer and goes deeper as a mood ..
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Yes!
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🙂
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Lovely post. Ah, joy, what a lovely, lovely experience.
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I agree Vicki – terrific article. Thank you.
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“Worried about being worried”…so true.
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Exactly….that hit the spot for me too…
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Love this post! It gives me joy reading it.
Not everyone gets it this. Even as joy is fleeting we all owe it to ourselves to embrace the joy in our lives.
Thank you for sharing and love the blog.
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Hi Randy. Thank you. Not sure I always “get it” either. 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Turning Spiral and commented:
Thank you to David Kannigan for reminding me that even on a minus 40 morning in Edmonton, happiness is in my own hands. And that if I succumb to, its just possible that joy might unexpectedly sweep me into its embrace.
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Hi Makere. Minus 40. Ugggh. You are going to have to work to get to a happiness place today!
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Spontaneous thought: happy champion of everyday life 🙂
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There you go…
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… sometimes with the LOL help of “T.G.I.F.: Let’s go on a Neature walk” safely saved under favourites 🙂
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You, too, love Neature Walk?!?! We are definitively related!
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🙂
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Terrific article – even if I think it’s semantics…is happiness then analogous to contentment? Does one associate exhilaration with joy or happiness or neither? What I love aout the article is the beauty of the examples he provides, for they are all reflective of precious moments in time, when all of one’s senses are heightened with delight.
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His examples are particularly strong. Not sure whether joy v. happiness is semantics. I think he makes a compelling argument that they are quite different.
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I agree that the emotions are different – though I may apply different words to describe them. One to me is more intrinsic and internally expansive, quieter and more personal. The other is more exuberant and brighter, shout-from-the-rooftops…I don’t think I’m articulating this very well..
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No you did. Men are from Venus…
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or Mars.
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OK, I’ll let you have the last word. I know how important that is to you. 🙂
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I’ve always believed (must have read somewhere, years ago) that happiness is circumstantial while joy is much deeper, able to survive the ups and downs and comings and goings of happiness.
Love the post.
Including the pic (don’t tell anyone).
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I’m with you on joy being deeper LaDona. And the secret is ours.
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Very thought provoking, David. Yes I do believe that pure joy is not something we encounter every day. I’m happy most of the time though. 🙂
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Thanks Sylvia.
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Worrying even when happy…very powerful.
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Yes…I’m with you.
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David, I’m delighted that “joy” is a part of my name (Joyce)!! And I’m full of it (“joy,” that is). LOL!!
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You know Joyce, that never came to mind for me. That accounts for your perpetual smile and bliss!
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Really interesting. I’ve always thought happiness is the thing we chase after, while joy is inherent and quiet. I know if I stop when something lovely is happening to really breathe it in, there’s a quiet pleasantness that I can touch. It fills me up.
Like others have said, maybe it’s semantics.
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I too think that joy made be “inherent and quiet.” Sort of a soft fog rolling in…
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So true we spend so much time worried we fail to live in the moment with the joy.
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Exactly. My sentiments too…
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To me happiness is something you can make happen. Joy to me is a surprise, an event, and a life moment that brought pure magic for a moment.
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Exactly Judy. Exactly. And this was the author’s point.
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Perfection.
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🙂 It is!
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That pic is awesome! Loved it
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It is a great shot. Thank you.
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Very interesting article. Pic is adorable.
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Thanks Indira.
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