RECOGNIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "HAPPINESS" & "JOY"

I am sure many of you may already know that many of the articles or posts that I share here are much related to our on going personal development.

Why is this so? If I may offer some perspective here as to why personal development is so very crucial in our professional journey.

Well an going and committed personal development, there will not be a strong foundation for our professional development.

People ultimately "buy us" first and foremost before "buying what we do".

In this regard, I want to very quickly touch on the MAJOR difference between "Happiness" & "Joy"...which is so FUNDAMENTAL in stewarding through life successfully.

The whole world from the time of creation is searching and pursuing "Happiness" and often confuses it with "Joy". There are countless teaching by many on how to attain happiness or live life happily, even a popular song at one time which many know " Dont worry be Happy". However despite all these, "happiness" tends to be transient and even elusive at times. It is hard to hold onto as you may agree.

I recently came across an amazing revelation of what is Happiness and Joy, which gave me a wonderful insight into the MAJOR difference between these two words, which I want to share with you.

I came to know that HAPPINESS has its root word derived from the word "HAPPEN" and hence it is VERY DEPENDENT on the HAPPENINGS or SITUATIONS around us, which we all know is very much subject to CHANGE.

Hence, there is no way for us in this world to remain constantly HAPPY given that our situations are always changing. All to often we hear words such as "That's Life" or "Life is What You Make of It" etc. All of these arise from coping mechanisms which we tend to come up with in navigating through life's unpredicatbility and challenges.

HAPPINESS is "wimpy" as one man of God puts it. It is very soulish in nature and hence cannot remain constant given that our soul is affected by our emotions. It is to be noted that ous soul comprises of Mind, Emotions and Will here.

However, JOY is a FRUIT of the SPIRIT, which is independent of the happenings around us.

It is an INNATE FORCE from our SPIRIT through the well-spirings which are ANCHORED in the Word of GOD, HIS PROMISES & HIS TESTIMONIES in our lives.

It is ROBUST, RUGGED, ENDURING and FIRM - it is an INSIDE OUT characteristics and not vice-versa.

The sooner we come to realise that we WILL GO THROUGH trials and challenges in this world the better, since it underlines the need to PURSUE JOY in overcoming the circumstances and challenges of LIFE, in LIVING VICTORIOUSLY.

Nehemiah 8:10 "... for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Be blessed..

(My ebook the "Human Being Exposed" which is available now on Amazon can give you a deeper insight on the difference between the soul and the spirit while revealing the TRIUNE nature of man which comprises of Body, Soul & Spirit. You can access this eBook via the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Being-Exposed-Understanding-Complete-ebook/dp/B079YGQP3G)

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