We spend most of our lives in pursuit of happiness while what we should truly be seeking is Joy in life. A real feeling of Joy is infinitely more profound when compared to the transitory feeling of happiness.

1. THE STORY OF HAPPINESS
Payam Shoghi
http://payamshoghi.com/

2. WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
Happiness comes from the root word hap, which
means chance. . .
Derived from the same root as the word “happening”
Happiness is circumstantial and depends on certain
things that happen around us.
So, happy things happen and they make us happy

3. WHAT MAKES US HAPPY?
 An extra scoop of ice cream.
 Eating the food that we like.
 Winning a lottery.
 A gift–like a new I-pod or mobile phone.
 Praise, and nice things being said about us.
 New and attractive clothes.
 Good looks.
 Agreeable company.
 Etc., etc. . .

4. WHAT MAKES US HAPPY?
But sometimes there are other things that make us feel
happy:
 Exercising power and control over others.
 Teasing others.
 Bullying and ragging.
 Showing off what we have and others don’t.
 Defying and challenging authority.
 Damaging school/public property.
 Doing what we feel like doing at that moment.
 Etc., etc. . .

5. HAPPINESS. . .
It is for us to decide what should bring us happiness.
But, no matter what happens to us, and what we do,
our happiness is not going to last forever.
The “happiness that lasts” is never found because it
is actually impossible to get happy and stay happy!
And we keep doing different things in quest of this
elusive, everlasting happiness.

6. A TWIST IN THE TALE
OUR STORY DOES NOT END HERE

7. A SUPERIOR FEELING
There exists a feeling that is much more
superior than happiness.
It is called
JOY

8. JOY. . .
At first glance, joy and happiness may
seem similar but, really, they are quite
different.
Joy is related to happiness, but it is a
deeper, richer experience.

9. JOY. . .
Have you ever fed a pet, or little
animals and birds in the park?
How did it feel?
That feeling is the feeling of Joy.

10. JOY. . .
Have you ever helped a younger brother
or sister with his/her homework?
How did it feel?
That feeling is the feeling of Joy.

11. JOY. . .
Have you ever shared something that
you treasured with someone less
deprived?
How did it feel?
That feeling is the feeling of Joy.

12. JOY. . .
How do you feel when you think of
somebody who you love very much–like
a grand parent?
That feeling is the feeling of Joy.

13. JOY. . .
A mother feels great joy when she feeds her
child, even though she may herself go hungry.
A farmer experiences joy when he sees the
fruit of his hard work, even though it may not
mean much materially.
Teachers feel great joy when their students
excel at school.
Students feel joy when their hard-work is
rewarded with higher grades.

14. HAPPINESS V/S JOY
We feel happy when we are receiving.
But joy comes from giving and sharing.
The greatest joy is when we give
happiness to others; or when we make
others happy.

15. HAPPINESS V/S JOY. . .
And the best part is that:
WE CAN ALWAYS REMAIN
JOYOUS and JOYFUL
Depending on our actions, and the
choices that we make

16. JOY MOTIVATES
Let us learn to differentiate between joy
and happiness.
Try and recognise the feeling of joy which
comes from within as against the feeling of
happiness which comes from outside
Our quest for real joy can become a
powerful source of motivation in life for
us helping us achieve excellence.