Definition of

Happiness

Happiness

Children usually have joy when playing.

Joy is the emotion or feeling experienced when something causes happiness or joy . The usual thing is that joy is expressed through gestures, actions or words.

For example: “What a joy! My son passed the exam and managed to graduate” , “It made me very happy to see you, we have to meet more often” , “Few things bring me as much joy as a kilo of ice cream” .

Joy as a state of mind

Joy can be considered a state of mind . When a person has joy, they feel fulfilled since they are experiencing a pleasant or pleasant moment. That is why it can be said that human beings develop a tendency to do what, in one way or another, brings them joy. This can also be seen in animals.

Having the possibility of sharing a family dinner, for example, can bring joy to a parent. This action generates well-being by itself. Working eight hours a day, on the other hand, can be tedious or overwhelming, although if said work offers the possibility of enjoying a good economic position, having the job in question will also be a joy.

The opposite of joy is sadness . The opposition between both notions can be understood in multiple situations. Suppose Real Madrid and Barcelona face each other in a soccer match. A supporter of the Catalan team may experience joy if their team wins, or sadness if they lose.

Marriage

The wedding is a moment of joy for the couple getting married.

Positive impact on health

Joy has been shown to have positive health effects . When an individual feels happy, the brain releases endorphin, a hormone that increases the body's strength and minimizes pain.

Stress is also one of the conditions that oppose joy and, therefore, makes us weaker and intensifies pain. While it is true that both extremes can appear as a consequence of situations that are difficult or impossible to control, sometimes everything depends on the individual's willingness to avoid overwhelming obligations and overly demanding deadlines by all means.

Go in search of joy

In other words, joy is something that we must pursue and seek at every step , instead of passively waiting for it.

It is a commitment to ourselves that we should never neglect, since the advantages of being happy are undeniable and also affect those around us: joy makes us more productive and puts us in a state in which life seems to have more sense, so our goals are more promising.

A Nicaraguan writer

Claribel Alegría is a writer born in Nicaragua in 1924, author of works that cover several genres, including poetry, essays and novels. In addition to his own production, he has also translated poetry books by several English authors, such as Robert Graves. Regarding the characteristics of his writing, it can be said that it focuses on the commitment to the reality of his time, without leaving aside the political situation and its implications on the life of the people.

There are several works, mainly musical, that have the term joy in their titles, such as the following: the poem " Ode to Joy ", written in the 18th century by the German author Friedrich Schiller; The " European Anthem ", which represents the Council of Europe and the European Union, is often associated with this word; a song called " Himno a la Alegría ", by the Spanish singer and composer Miguel Ríos; Within Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, the fourth movement is known as " Hymn of Joy "; José García Illa's novel called " A hymn to joy ."