How to be happy: Thinking about the difference between joy and happiness

The top image is a "Monstera".

It is a plant characterized by large leaves
that evoke the feeling of a tropical climate.
The unique holes in its leaves are said to
help the plant let the wind pass through.

Its flower language is "happy news."
It blooms with white or cream-colored flowers
called "spathes."

Today, I would like to think about
the difference between "joy" and "happiness."
When you buy something new.

When you are praised.
When you get a message from someone you like.
People feel joy.

However, that emotion fades over time.

The things you wanted eventually become part of your daily routine.
Even great successes eventually become something you get used to.

That is why people keep looking for the next bit of joy.
More recognition.

More stimulation.

Something more to feel fulfilled.
But even if you stack up moments of joy,
it does not necessarily mean you will be happy.

I believe that joy and happiness are different things.
Joy is an emotion.

It is temporary and comes in waves.

Happiness is not an emotion,
but a state where the heart is fulfilled.

My family was safe today.
I can sleep soundly.

I have a place to return to.
I think things like that
are what happiness is.

It is not an emotion that makes you jump for joy.
Rather, I think it is closer to the foundation that supports life.
Happiness is more about peace of mind than excitement.

It is more about acceptance than stimulation.

That is why,
when people are in a state of happiness,

they are surprisingly unaware of it.
It is not a strong feeling of delight,
but rather a "sense of acceptance that this life is okay."

And that sense of acceptance
is not something that only arises when things are going well.
The sadness of losing someone important

never completely disappears.
Even so, as time passes,

a moment comes when you can think, "I am who I am today because that person was in my life."
Even if you cannot affirm the suffering itself,

you can accept it as a part of life.
That is where people
gradually come to terms with their lives.

The relief that is born at that time
is, I think, also close to a sense of acceptance.

It is the same for children.
They do not understand life philosophically.

But,
there is someone to protect them.

They can sleep in peace.

They feel they have a right to be here.

When they feel that way, they smile happily.
That may be an unspoken
affirmation of life.
Conversely, no matter how many joyful events increase,

if the feeling of "is this the right way to live?" does not disappear, people will not feel fulfilled.

It does not have to be a perfect life.
It is okay to have failures and regrets.
Even so,

to be able to accept, "This was my life."
I think the essence of happiness lies there.
The Monstera's flower language is happy news.

Joyful events color our lives, but
I realized that happiness is the feeling of being able to

affirm life itself.
For you,
what is the difference between joy and happiness?

Books that influenced the writing of this article

"Phantom" by Keisuke Hada

What must one obtain
to become happy?
Even as convenience and wealth increase,
why do we not feel fulfilled?

This book was a work that sharply depicted
that modern sense of emptiness.

The feeling that even if you keep chasing joyful events and stimulation,
the depths of your heart remain unfulfilled.
This book taught me that sense of discomfort.

Joy and happiness are not the same.
It became the catalyst for thinking about
the theme of this article.
I think those considering FIRE should read it.
Please do.

I have also summarized other "ways to be happy" flowers
at the link below.
Please take as much as you need🍀

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope to see you in another article.
🍀May you be happy🍀