• Joy versus Happiness

    Understanding the Difference Between Joy and Happiness

    Have you ever thought about the difference between joy and happiness, or do you consider them the same thing? I hadn’t really reflected on it until I was in my late 30s, battling chronic migraine. Years of failed treatments, terrible side effects from medications, constant pain, nausea, and exhaustion left me feeling hopeless and angry. I was spiraling deeper into depression, struggling to see a way out. During one particularly tough time, we decided to visit my in-laws’ cabin in upstate New York. Despite feeling ill, I was determined to make the best of it for my kids. The night we arrived, I sat on the porch and prayed—really prayed,…