What is Real Joy?
Happiness is an emotion; joy is a choice. Joy is a state of being whereas happiness fades depending on circumstances. Positive Psychology explains, “Hedonic happiness is a moment-to-moment, temporary, transient experience of joy. It concerns having a good time now and is firmly rooted in the present. On the other hand, eudaimonic happiness involves a “deep wellbeing in which a person feels that their life has meaning and purpose” (Waldinger & Schulz, 2023, p. 18).
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, happiness isn’t. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” At Echoing Hills, we make it our mission to produce fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit – God’s Spirit.
Research Professor Brene Brown quotes a Jesuit priest: “It’s not joy that makes us grateful; it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.”
Practice gratitude by observing and affirming the good things we’ve received and acknowledge the role of others in bringing change to our lives. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude can involve keeping a journal, remembering what God has brought you through, watching how you speak, and looking for new ways to express gratitude.
Mindfulness shifts perspective to the present moment and highlights seemingly small but joyful moments. Focusing on joy, gratitude, and mindfulness reduces anxiety. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states, “At some point, anxiety and stress affect everyone. They can manifest differently in different people, and the level of anxiety one experiences can vary, but there is one thing for certain: There are ways to manage anxiety, even if it feels out of control.” (2025, para. 1).
Examples of healthy ways to cope with anxiety include: taking care of your body – by eating well and exercising; taking care of your mind – through breathing exercises and reframing your focus; and getting out of your head – talk to friends, family, or a professional for help.
Each year, Echoing Hills chooses a word for the year to unite our focus as a ministry. In 2024, the word ‘still’ was chosen with a focus on resting in God. For 2025, our word is ‘joy’ and we are meditating on the joy of the Lord as our strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
https://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/difference-between-joy-and-happiness.htm
https://globalleadership.org/articles/leading-yourself/brene-brown-on-joy-and-gratitude/
https://www.globaldisciples.ca/blog/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength-serving-each-other-with-joy/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CDo%20not%20grieve%2C%20for%20the,8%3A10%2C%20ESV).&text=And%20that%20joy%20becomes%20the,can%20easily%20weaken%20our%20resolve.
