The difficulties of this past week have lead me consider the
difference between joy and happiness. Growing up in the United States, I am
used to valuing things that being me happiness. “Do what makes you happy.” Is a
phrase I hear continually when making decisions. But is happiness really what
we should be aiming for? The very word “happy” originates from “hap” which
meant “lucky, favored by fortune, prosperous.” Happiness, then by its very
definition is something that is caused by external events. It can come and go
very easily depending on your circumstances. The word joy, has its root in the
Latin word “gaudium” which literally means “to rejoice.” “To rejoice” is a
choice that a person makes, independently of their circumstances. True joy
therefore comes from internal factors, and as such is more infallible than
happiness. A sense of purpose in the work you do for example, is going to last
longer than the elevation that comes from a small success or the dismay that
comes from failure.
To be fair, joy is much harder to maintain than happiness. To
be joyful requires making a choice every day to embrace all the challenges
ahead, knowing that they will cause you to grow as a person. To be joyful
requires seeking out appreciation for all the good things in your life, even if
they may not be obvious or bring you immediate happiness all the time. As I
stated in one of my previous blog posts, I found contentment amidst the stress
of training in the act of eating breakfast every morning with my host mom. This
week has had many of the same challenges as my first few weeks of training. I
have experienced fear, loneliness, and exhaustion. However, I
have never felt a stronger sense of purpose than I have in being here in
Nicaragua. This feeling has allowed me to, despite these challenges, continue
to strive towards being joyful. (I still am far from living out my own advice perfectly.)
So while my reply to the question, “Are you happy in Nicaragua?” may change based on my circumstances, the joy that I experience
here will hopefully continue to persist for the next two years.
Thanks again for reading. This blog was a little heavy so
here’s a picture of my new home to make up for it:
Downtown Bluefields
