What’s the Difference Between Joy and Happiness?

Ever feel like your energy is running on a meter?

At one extreme end, you’re hitting burnout mode. You’re drained, yet pushing yourself through. Above that lies stress. You are less overworked but not quite thriving. 

Besides it, on the scale is happiness. That's the point you hit when you have your morning coffee. At the very extreme is joy. That's the steady fuel that keeps you going even when life’s not perfect.

But what’s the difference between joy and happiness?

Happiness is temporary and tied to external factors. But joy is lasting. It's rooted in systems and part of your lifestyle and habit. 

Joy at work is the fuel for the brain. When employees experience joy in their work environment, they can access better cognitive resources, demonstrate more creativity, and build stronger relationships. All these power up the organizational performance. 

The difference summed up is that happiness is a spark, but joy is the flame that lasts!

Happiness

Happiness may come from finding lost money in your pocket or hitting all the green lights on the way home. 

Feeling happy for us just happens on its own. It's an emotional response to external triggers. It’s just like how Dalai Lama described it, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” 

Psychologists describe it as “an emotional state characterized by feelings of satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment”.

So it’s a temporary, fleeting emotion you feel with the dopamine spikes.

You can feel it when you finish a long-overdue project or win a game. It can also come from an unexpected compliment.

Joy

Joy is a deeper emotion. It's more about what tomorrow will bring for you. You don’t feel joy due to whatever’s happening around you. It’s an internal feeling.

It comes from a sense of purpose, faith, and gratitude. So it lasts longer than happiness. In fact, joy is independent of happiness, too. 

You feel joy when you engage in meaningful or charity work. You feel joy when you meditate, engage in spiritual practices, journal, or enjoy the family rituals. So it’s more grounded and tied to values and purpose.

Unlike happiness, which comes and goes, joy sticks around. You can feel it even when life isn't perfect.

Also, joy lowers stress hormones and improves immune function. So it’s not just a fuel for the soul but also for the body. 

Researcher Brené Brown sums it up rather beautifully here: “Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we’re too busy chasing extraordinary experiences.” 

How Happiness Leads to Joy

Oprah was right when she said, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” 

Celebrating the little things in life is rewarding and makes us happy. These little bursts of happiness can grow into something much deeper, i.e., joy.  You just need to be consistent.

Happiness is like a little spark. Every time you achieve something or share a laugh, you are striking a match that lights up but fades quickly.

But if you put all these happy moments together and light them up often, you can actually build a flame that lasts, a.k.a. Joy.

Now, how do we do that? Instead of waiting for the big win, aim to celebrate the small wins at work. Enjoy with your colleagues and you’ll create a culture of joy. At home, practice journaling and gratitude. Think of all the best things that happened to you throughout the day and write them down. 

Regularly practicing gratitude can actually boost long-term joy and resilience.

Practical Steps to Cultivate Both

The good thing is, you don’t have to choose between happiness and joy. If you want to be happy and joyful (yes, you can be both!), you need to intentionally chase them. 

Happiness comes from the little treats and breaks. But for joy, remember that sustainable habits are directly tied to higher levels of long-term joy. 

Here are some easy steps to cultivate joy and happiness together.

Chase Happiness 

Happiness comes in little moments. So what you can do is create more of those moments intentionally. 

Celebrate each and every milestone, no matter how small. Treat yourself intentionally with a cupcake from your favourite bakery, even if you make it through one bad day.

Go on a coffee date, call your sibling for a 10-minute laugh, or hop on a game night with friends. 

Build Joy

Since joy stems from your system, create a life around meaning and consistency. 

People who regularly practice gratitude are 25% happier in the long term. So, practice gratitude by journaling. Just pen three things you are grateful for every day. 

Then, faith and spirituality provide a solid ground to breathe. Joy can come from meditation, praying, or simply taking a moment out for mindfulness. 

Giving your time and energy to others is also one of the greatest sources of joy. So don't shy away from volunteer work. Go whenever you can, whether it's for a community project or at a local shelter.

Protect Joy by Reducing Stress

As per Shawn Achor, “Happiness is the joy we feel striving toward our potential.” 

Keep in mind that joy isn’t just to be built, it must also be protected to last. You need to water it every day with gratitude and purpose. At the same time, you must take out the weeds of stress and overcommitment.

So the first thing you need to do is set your boundaries straight at work and in your personal life. If anything is overwhelming, give yourself 10 to 15 minutes of breathing space.

Things like deciding the meal, wardrobe, and other morning rituals can be quite draining with life itself. So, free up your mental load by standardizing routine tasks. 

Get ample sleep and rest. Set a cut-off time for phone calls and emails, if you have to. Just keep yourself from getting to that burnout stage.

Conclusion

Look for moments of happiness every single day. At the same time, commit yourself to becoming consistent and building habits that cultivate joy. After all, it’s the flame that lights up the way forward.

When you ace happiness and joy together, you can cope with stress and have a richer, more meaningful life.

As per research, employees who feel joy at work are four times more likely to be engaged.

So happiness indeed is sweet, but joy makes life complete!

Sources

• HR.com: “The Joy Advantage: How Happy Employees Power Organizational Success”. Accessed 10/03/2025. 

• Psychology Today: “Happiness”, Accessed 10/03/2025.

• Harvard Health Blog: “How Can You Find Joy (or at Least Peace) During Difficult Times?”. Accessed 10/03/2025. 

• Positive Psychology: “The Neuroscience of Gratitude & Its Effects on the Brain”. Accessed 10/03/2025. 

• Yale University:  “The Science of Well-Being”, Accessed 10/03/2025. 

• Noba Project:  “Positive Psychology”, Accessed 10/03/2025. 

• Gallup: “State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report”, Accessed 10/03/2025.