Experiencing Joy

At least once a day.

Words and image by Hugh MacLeod

What would it mean to experience joy every day?

Any examination of joy starts with happiness. Are joy and happiness the same thing?

In simplest terms, joy is deeper than happiness.

Happiness, at its root, means good fortune and being in advantageous circumstances. In languages as diverse as Greek to Irish, most of the originating words for happy were related to luck.

When things are going well, we are happy; when they aren’t, we are less so and perhaps even unhappy.

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Joy is much deeper and far less dependent on circumstances. The Greek word for joy, ‘chara’ represents an inner gladness and delight.

It isn’t dependent on outside circumstances, coming instead from the point of gratitude and grace.

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Experiencing Joy isn’t about being problem free.

Joy is letting go of the fear of those problems, not the problems themselves.

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🌀 Reflection:

🌱 How might we experience joy once a day?

🌱 What would it mean for our attitude to be driven by gratitude rather than circumstances and events?