The Secret Difference Between Joy and Happiness

In this episode, Mike and Mary ask the Universe to explain the difference between two things we all want more of: happiness and joy. It’s easy to think they’re the same, but the Universe reveals that the difference is far greater—and far more meaningful—than most of us realize.

With its heartfelt wisdom and down-to-earth guidance, the Universe helps us understand how happiness and joy each play essential yet distinct roles in our lives, and how we can reconnect with each, even in times of pain, loneliness, or uncertainty.

If you’ve been searching for more peace, meaning, or light in your life, you’ll find the Universe’s message in this episode both surprising and deeply uplifting.

Questions or comments for Mike and Mary?
Email them at: WhatsTheUniverseSay@gmail.com

To learn more about Mike and Mary's work with The Food Whisperers, please visit:
thefoodwhisperers.com

To learn more about Mary Obana, visit her website:
maryobana.com

To arrange a private reading with Mary to receive the guidance the Universe has for you, visit:
maryobana.com/private-readings

For more information about Mary's book "Shine: A Simple Guide to Finding Your Light and Letting It Shine on the World", visit:
maryobana.com/amazon

Transcript

(0:00) Mary Obana

Everyone wants to be happy, but what's the difference between happiness and joy? 

(0:06) Michael Lannon

That's a question we had and we wanted to find out, so we asked the universe. 

Welcome to this episode of What's the Universe Say About That. 

(0:18) Mary Obana

I'm Mary Obana and along with my husband Michael, we ask the universe for answers.

You see, I'm blessed with this beautiful gift where I get quiet and I can connect with the loving guidance of the universe. 

(0:32) Michael Lannon

So today, you'll see and hear Mary connect directly to that divine guidance and hear the words of wisdom flow directly through her in response to questions about life and the challenges we all face at certain times. 

(0:46) Mary Obana

So welcome to our home.

(0:48) Michael Lannon

And welcome to this now normal, but always amazing part of our daily lives. So sit back, get ready, and let's hear what the universe has to say about that. 

(0:58) Mary Obana

Let's do it.

(1:00) Mary Obana

Hello. Welcome back. 

(1:02) Michael Lannon

Hey, everybody. And welcome back. Today, we're going to talk about joy. And so joy is one of the things that we hear a lot about or it's mentioned in a lot of our previous episodes. And I want to know, is what's the difference between happiness and joy? 

(1:21) Mary Obana

It's a great question. 

(1:22) Michael Lannon

Yeah. And I'm going to add a little extra sauce in there.

I'd like to know, if we're not feeling particularly happy or joyful, how do we have the universe help us find it and feel it? 

(1:36) Mary Obana

Always adding a little oomph. 

(1:37) Michael Lannon

Exactly! Extra bang for our buck. 

(1:40) Mary Obana

Yes. Okay, great. It's a great question. All right. 

(1:43) Michael Lannon

So happiness and joy.

(1:46) Mary Obana

All right. 

(1:46) Michael Lannon

Let's do it. 

(1:48) Mary Obana

Let's see what the universe has to say about that. Okay, here we go. 

(1:57) The Universe

This is a wonderful subject, one we are delighted to spend time on. Yes, joy.

You have heard joy many times in many of the messages because joy is so essential to the human experience. But you ask, what is it? Joy is something that is essential to the human experience because joy is something that is felt deep within you. You see, joy isn't temporary.

Joy isn't something that is a response to a circumstance. Joy is something that is part of you, within you, the way you see life. Happiness is an emotion.

Happiness is something that is a response to something, a circumstance. Good news. A child who is in a great time in their life. Things that are happening to others. Things that are happening for others. Things that you are seeing in your life. A gathering of friends.  You see, these things are circumstantial, meaning they are a function of something that is happening in the moment. 

(3:40) 

Joy is very different because joy is not a function of what is happening in a moment and only something that surfaces in a moment.

Joy is something that comes with peace. When you have peace in your life, joy emerges. When you have peace in your life, it matters not what the circumstance is, you see, because there is this underlying sense of peace.

When you have peace, joy fills your heart and your being because you are looking at all your circumstances with appreciation and optimism. This does not mean that you don't face unwanted circumstances. This does not mean that you are joyful when something tragic happens.

You are happy when something good happens. You are joyful because you have a sense of being. Joy is a perspective that is greater than the moment.

Joy is filled with gratitude. Joy comes from knowing that what is, is beautiful. Joy is a perspective, but a perspective that is born out of a feeling of peace.

Joy is not temporary. Joy is something that fills your heart. Joy is something that comes from your soul.

(6:43) 

You ask how one finds joy. One finds joy when they find peace. How does one find peace? Peace comes from knowing that you are not alone.

True peace comes when you trust that there is more, so much more that you cannot see. Peace comes from knowing you are not alone. You see, the reason peace comes from knowing you are not alone is that when you are faced with unwanted circumstances, moments of confusion, uncertainty, when you live with a foundation of peace, knowing you are not alone, trusting there is so much you cannot see, it allows you to face the circumstance that comes without agitation, without that sense of fear, without that sense you must control it, because you know there is so much more.

(8:58) 

This does not mean happiness is an unwanted thing. Of course, happiness is delightful, but one must not confuse the two, you see. Happiness is temporary and circumstantial. Joy is something that comes from your way of being. 

(9:46) Michael Lannon

That is so concise and perfect, I don't have any questions. You find peace, or you work to find peace, and out of peace comes joy, as opposed to trying to chase joy. Is that correct? 

(10:11) The Universe

Yes, joy is the result of peace, yes. Whereas, happiness is the result of a circumstance, you see. 

(10:23) Michael Lannon

Yeah, yeah.

Would you say thankfulness is a result of a circumstance, whereas gratitude is like joy, it's a deeper perspective? Is that similar? 

(10:39) The Universe

It's a wonderful question, but the answer is in more of where this comes from, whether you call it thankfulness or gratitude. Does it come from the mind, or is it a feeling that you have? You can have mental gratitude. I am grateful for the roof over my head, I am grateful for the food on my table, I am... 

(11:11)

But when you feel the gratitude, you feel the thankfulness, this is what is most important, not the word, but where it comes from.

Does this make sense? 

(11:30) Michael Lannon

Same with joy, then, as well. It comes from within. 

(11:34) The Universe

It comes from within.

It does not result from an external thing, it comes from within. Happiness is external, joy is internal. 

(11:49) Michael Lannon

So, can you give me, like if someone faces a terrible hardship, so obviously happiness is off the table, because it's circumstantial and it's temporary, how does joy fill someone's heart, or how do they feel joy amidst trouble and strife? 

(12:17) The Universe

So, when one is faced with an unwanted, unfortunate circumstance, the dominant emotion in that moment is facing that which has occurred.

The dominant emotion is processing, dealing, accepting this unwanted circumstance. This is a dominant, immediate, raw sensation. But as one is able to calm, process that circumstance, the peace that one relies on is knowing that you are not alone.

That unwanted circumstance can make you feel isolated at times, but the peace that emerges, the peace that you have within you, comforts you because you know you are not alone. And from that peace, there is that deep feeling of gratitude and joy for the peace. Joy is more closely aligned to peace than it is to frivolity.

Does this make sense? 

(14:33) Michael Lannon

Completely. Thank you so much. 

(14:38) The Universe

Both are welcomed, happiness and joy, and we wish for an abundance of both in each of your lives. 

(14:59) Michael Lannon

Thank you.

It was right down the middle. That was really clear, for me anyway. What'd you think? 

(15:22) Mary Obana

 Yeah, because I think it was interesting what was shared at the end about the frivolity, you know, because you think of... 

(15:30) Michael Lannon

I don't think I've ever heard you use that word in my life.

(15:32) Mary Obana

That's not a word I use. That's not my word!

Because, you know, you think about happiness and joyfulness as like, wee! You know, as this kind of lightness.

(15:46) Michael Lannon

Yeah. 

(15:48) Mary Obana

And truly, that's more happiness than it is joy. Joy is something that comes from... 

(15:56) Michael Lannon

And you know, it's funny, people get... Whenever I say people, I mean me! Me and all the people. But it's easy to get frustrated or fall into a kind of even a why me trap of, you know, happiness seems so fleeting. You know, sometimes you're happy and sometimes you're not.

And it's so circumstantial. And I think everyone would just naturally say, if you could live happy all the time, would you do it? Of course, everyone would do it. But that's like saying, it's got to be sunny every, you know, 24 hours a day.

The world couldn't survive. It wouldn't be healthy. You know, you need rain and you need sun and you need dark.

And that's what makes the whole experience an experience. As opposed to just one thing all the time. And by definition, circumstances are going to change.

And happiness will ebb and flow with those circumstances. 

(16:58) Mary Obana

Yes, yes. 

(16:59) Michael Lannon

The real, you know, what I really took from that is, I've struggled with... I remember one of the first messages I got about like, you're meant to feel joy in life.

And at the time I was not. And it felt like just this giant block that I had no idea how to kind of carve my way into it. But it's peace. And then joy comes with that. That is what I experienced. It's true. It's really, it's just finding peace. Then other things open up to you, like joy. 

(17:36) Mary Obana

It's actually funny when you think about like all the Christmas carols.There's joy to the world. Peace and joy. Which is interesting. I'm like, oh, maybe they were onto something! 

(17:50) Michael Lannon

And you know, they always use the term, find joy. You know, that's a kind of a funny thing too. Because if you have peace, then suddenly you find joy. It's not go out and create joy or go out and get joy. 

(18:08) Mary Obana

Yeah, it's the result of peace. Yeah. That's interesting.

(18:13) Michael Lannon

Yeah, that was really, really clear. And I hope it was helpful. And to see the two things as very happiness and joy, to see them as very different, very important things, but different things.

(18:27) Mary Obana

Yeah. Always clarifying! 

(18:32) Michael Lannon

All right. I'm happy and joyful!

(18:36) Mary Obana

Whooo! Here’s to lots of happiness and joy for you. 

(18:38) Michael Lannon

There you go. There you go. Well, thank you very much for joining us and we'll see you next time. 

(18:44) Mary Obana

See you next time! Take it easy! 

(18:44) Michael Lannon

See you. Bye-bye.