I don't really make a distinction between happiness and joy. To me, joy is just the state of happiness.
Contentment, for me, is simply a state of being satisfied.
I think what moves me from contentment to joy is an appreciation and gratitude.
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What brings you joy?
- Thread starter Sakeenah
- Start date
Contentment, for me, is simply a state of being satisfied.
I think what moves me from contentment to joy is an appreciation and gratitude.
I generally think of happiness as longer-term and occasionally more abstract than joy. If someone said, "I have a happy life," I would think of a peaceful, stable, and satisfied state of being that also frequently included joyous experiences. If someone said, "I have a joyous life," I would think of more sensuous and material rather than mental forms of gratification, such as eating a lot of good food, having a fancy car, frequently engaging in entertaining activities, etc.
I think of contentment as satisfaction whether joy is present or not. If one is content and consistently experiencing joy, they are happy.
Viker
Your beloved eccentric Auntie Cristal
Soandso
ᛋᛏᚨᚾᛞ ᛋᚢᚱᛖ
I feel like there's different kinds of joy. The joy I get from the decompression that happens when walking through an old growth forest is different than the joy I feel at seeing the excitement of the lights and bustle of Seattle at night
I'd say primarily that sharing in the fun things of life with loved ones and friends is always a pleasure. Good company and good drinks go a long way with me
I'd say primarily that sharing in the fun things of life with loved ones and friends is always a pleasure. Good company and good drinks go a long way with me
Sakeenah
Well-Known Member
That's a beautiful quote.
TagliatelliMonster
Veteran Member
Many things in different ways.
- good tasty food
- watching my kids play. Just watching them. Just seeing them smile and enjoy themselves
- playing drums
- solving a hard problem
- a good night sleep
- poetic things (a sunset, an idyllic landscape, ...)
- ...
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
My son, especially when he's experiencing his own joy. Also, creating things like art, writing, cooking, programming, etc.
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Sakeenah
Well-Known Member
I agree with this. I think for me contentment is like you described it's a satisfaction. It's a state of being that's felt within, even if like you mentioned you aren't experiencing joy in that particular moment. I can be sad and still feel a sense of overall contentment, to me sadness, happiness etc. is more something I feel in the moment based on an experience. Not sure how to explain it properly.
One way I think of it is that contentment is having a fertile soil. Happiness and sadness are the fruit or lack thereof, respectively.
VoidCat
Use any and all pronouns including neo and it/it's
This is Hope my stuffed cat. I use her as an emotional support animal cuz I can't have a real one here at the group home i love in without it possibly being in danger due to two the other residents. Staff made her a little mask. I also gave her a banana at one point cuz everyone else was having snack didn't want her left out
