Recently, I jotted down a couple of thoughts on the relationship between joy and pain. I somehow lost my notes (including the story) on what prompted the notion, but this thought is lingering in my mind:
Joy often seems linked to pain.
Perhaps this is part of how joy is different from happiness. Being happy isn't necessarily linked to something else. It's, if anything, the absence of something — anxiety, threat, fear. And, the presence of something that feels enjoyable, pleasurable, good — like a state of being...peaceful, without worry, fun, free, etc.
Joy, on the other hand, seems characterized by relief, surprise, deeply heart-felt — an almost wordless...guttural expression of intense emotion. And, often, because of something else, sometimes even a painful thing. It captures something like, "Oh, so something good IS going to happen after all.... Wow, I'm SO glad...I was so worried!". We can even burst out saying, "Thank God!".
We might have given up, acquiescing to the inevitable outcome we were afraid of. Resigned to that what we wanted didn't happen...and won't happen — hopes dashed. And, then, something unexpectedly good happens and we are filled with...joy.
When your team wins after being down the whole game....
When the birth happens or child succeeds, at something they felt unattainable, after all....
When the health condition is fully mitigated....
When the worst news turns out not to be the case....
When the truth finally comes out....
When the good is revealed after all....
When love prevails....
...pure JOY!
