How often do you hear people’s well-meaning advice to “just do what makes you happy”? Or do they say, “Do what makes you joyful”? Perhaps we need to be sure we are aiming at the same goal.
I decided to research “What’s the difference between happiness and joy?” After reviewing several sources on podcasts, websites and blogs, I have concluded that happiness is a temporary, outward facing emotion, while joy is a longer lasting, inwardly facing state of being. Happiness is usually a fleeting feeling that can change instantly. True joy is a more constant, profound and intense emotion.
The NeuroLaunch editorial team calls it “that warm, fuzzy feeling that bubbles up from within, making our hearts soar, and our faces light up with smiles.”
Episode 65 of The Stewardology Podcast titled, “The Difference Between Happiness & Joy,” describes it like this:
“Joy is a deeper, internal state that remains constant regardless of circumstances, while happiness is a temporary emotion influenced by external factors. Essentially, joy is a choice and a practice, whereas happiness is often fleeting and situational.”
Hmm, seems to me that happiness is an essential part of joy, but not necessarily the other way around. So, to be happier more often, perhaps we need to find the joy in our lives.
I will remember 2024 as one of the most joyous years of my life. It would be easy to say it’s because I’m “retired” and “every day is Saturday except Sunday.” Yes, there are definitely times when a leisurely breakfast or a game of pickleball or golf brings me happiness, but it’s a short-lived feeling. But since I “flunked” retirement and am working part-time now, we can throw that hypothesis out anyway.
No, the joy I am feeling is because I have been blessed with a purpose and a calling and am surrounded by like-minded friends at Lowcountry Community Church, the Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC), The Red Truck Men and my colleagues at the South Coastal Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). It’s that joy that comes from serving others.
You see the joy I’m talking about is deeper, as in deeper in my soul. Yup, I am “all-in” with my commitment and have found joy in this new purpose of serving others through God. This past Sunday our Pastor Jeff Cranston gave us this message, “Joy is a choice. Pain is inevitable; misery is optional. Focus on what you have, not what you don’t. Gratitude spawns joy. Joy is found in the midst of trials and tribulations. Joy is something which defies circumstances and occurs in spite of those difficult circumstances.”
I just returned from three days of “Boot Camp” at the FCA headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. It was informational, transformational and, yes, it was joyous.
In the lobby there is a timeline with a 1954 quote from FCA founder Don McClanen, “For some time, I have had the idea of forming an organization of athletes and coaches in this hero-worshiping nation of ours. If athletes can endorse shaving cream, razor blades and cigarettes, surely, they can endorse the Lord, too. So, my idea is to form an organization that would project you as Christian men before the youth and athletes of our nation.”
During that era, Branch Rickey (yes, the man who signed Jackie Robinson to his first MLB contract) was the general manager of my hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. He was approached by Don McClanen and other FCA founding fathers and hosted a banquet in Pittsburgh that helped give FCA both the financial and public support it needed to launch. That was 70 years ago!
Getting to work with young student athletes and coaches for a variety of sports has been a true blessing and makes me feel full of joy that all my life experiences have led me to this place and time. As with most of us, there are times when I wish I could go back and undo some of the mistakes that I made earlier in my life, but then, I wouldn’t be me. All those experiences have brought me to today. I really believe that God put me in this place, at this moment, for a reason.
Finding the joy “where you are” is important as well. While I was in Kansas City, I had the opportunity to get together with old friends David Murphy and Joe Corvaia of Crawford Architects, who designed the award-winning Pegula Ice Arena at Penn State. When I look back at the time we spent together from 2010 to 2013, it was amazing what we were able to build together. Along with the other members of “Team Pegula,” as we called ourselves, what we got done during that rather tumultuous time in Penn State history was truly remarkable.
I find great joy in hearing from my former players, coaches, camp staff and even campers who actually remember what we taught them! We’ll forget about the kid who ran the experiment of putting a hockey puck in a microwave for 30 minutes. We have long since forgiven him.
Heidi and I find the joy in intentionally skipping another gory, shoot-’em-up movie to go see Christian films like “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” directed by Dallas Jenkins of “The Chosen” fame. We even found ourselves watching the 60th anniversary extended version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on a Friday night. We are either really getting old, sentimental or just trying to recapture a little bit of our wonderful childhood Christmas memories.
We recently attended For King + Country’s: “A Drummer Boy Christmas” which was a first for us to see a theater showing of a taped “live” concert performance. It was outstanding. If you want a good family-oriented movie to watch for the holidays, check out “Unsung Hero.” It’s the true story of Joel and Luke Smallbone’s family and chronicles the story of their mom, their unsung hero, and their older sister Rebecca St. James, who preceded them as a Grammy Award-winning Christian singer.
I’m also finding the joy of being a part of the team again in softball, both as a player and a coach, which has also been a big part of my year of joy. But most of all it was finding joy in my strengthened relationship with Jesus. I have a long way to go, but I found peace and contentment like never before while serving the Lord.
Sometimes finding the joy is remembering life’s simple pleasures that provide the happiness fix through a simple walk or a bike ride or hanging out with my best buddy Barkley, who gives unconditional love. I even found joy and laughter (mostly the latter) attending Aqua-Aerobics class with my wife. Let’s just say I won’t be getting asked to participate in any synchronized swimming productions.
So as 2024, my year of joy, is coming to an end, I am praying for you and yours to find the blessings and to know this joy deep down in your soul. Happy holidays, merry Christmas and happy New Year, y’all!
