I asked this this past summer....digging deeper into the why's and how's and what's is always interesting to me. Plus I struggle...Anyway..link fyi

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5412185/what-brings-you-happiness

Great question to start the year. Having 'my little unit' (both sons, DIL and granddaughter) sleeping under our roof all at the same time for 3 weeks beginning at Thanksgiving is the greatest joy. Well... maybe we didn't sleep so much with a teething one year old, but you know what I mean! That's the obvious answer - family. But then there are the fleeting moments of catching the sun sparkling on our creek, hearing the water spill over the little falls, pure joy. Getting back to my fitness classes after being detoured with family and a sore hip and having people tell me the class wasn't as much fun without me - what a great thing to hear! Watching our dog stalking moles in the meadow. Climbing into bed with clean sheets that dried in the sun - heaven. I've realized I am a very simple person despite my dreams of exotic places and adventures.

I’m a bit of a dour Celt, but there are things I love. Standing in a freshly organized, bright room. Hiking in old growth forest. Sharing a joke with my husband, making him laugh. Singing in harmony with my family or choir. Watching my kid smile and laugh and be proud of himself. Kayaking or swimming on a still morning or in the rain. Exploring a new city by myself. Snuggling with my dog.

For those fleeting moments when there is no "drama."

A really good cup of coffee on a quiet morning, hiking with DH on any beautiful trail, having our family (3 kids, 6 grandkids) all together and watching them enjoying each other as parents and friends, having a fun volunteer ‘job’ I enjoy and fun people to work with, doing good in our small community for those less fortunate (just beginning some things with this), listening to a live concert that warms your heart. I could go on too.

I feel a difference between "happiness" and "Joy". For me, joy is in moments, while happiness is a frame of mind or a state of being. I find joy in playing music in an ensemble and it goes well, but happiness in simply being in the ensemble. I find joy in sharing in good news, or doing something I've always wanted to do and having it live up to (or exceed) my expectations, and happiness in having people to share those things with or having the opportunity (time, resources,) to do things. I find happiness is knowing my son is finding his niche, and joy in seeing him perform. Happiness in finding that my mom is actually settled and content in her environment (makes my life easier, too), joy in seeing people interact with her. Happiness in being on the same wavelength with people with whom I'm united in a common task, whether it's how we are living (family) or working, joy in an accomplishment with those people.

I'll add that I also find joy in finding things I thought were lost, like the garage door code I found 4 months after we moved in. Maybe that was more "glee".

I try to find joy in every day-I particularly love a day spent in the forest while working. My little grandson's kisses. My cats snuggled up together on the bed. Climbing into bed after a long day-but my goosebump joys are:

The opening notes of a great band at a live concert.

Finding that perfect one-of-a-kind item at a flea market, salvage or thrift store.

Reviewing a very well written technical document for work. It's weird-I know, but I review so many that are horrible and I have to reject them. When I get a really well written one I let out a little squeal.

We’ve had a particularly stressful phase lately, but these two doofuses snuggling on my lap every night help a lot!

Robo, "Watching my kid smile and laugh and be proud of himself " never ends. Mine is 48 and proves this every time I see him. Nota bene: I use his two littles as my excuse to see him in his milieu as much as I can.

I'm not sure what brings me "joy". To me, it's a pretty high bar. Lots of things bring me pleasure, enjoyment, gratitude, happiness, fun, laughter or a sense of peace and serenity. I also really appreciate when I feel contentment.

But joy? That's not so easy. To me, those moments are really outstanding.

Other times, I think it comes in those moments when I'm least aware of where I am and what I'm doing because I'm so "in the flow" if you will...

I believe joy is a deeper state of being: an inner calm; a transcendent peacefulness. I think joy can be had in the midst of crisis, as it isn't dependent on outside influences. It comes from within. For me, it's also supplied by my higher power.

Happiness is more circumstantial and fleeting, but that's where I am when I'm hiking in the high desert, or curled up at home with a good book, hot mug of tea, and a couple of lazy cats on my lap.

Interesting reading what brings people joy. More interesting is one's perspective of what the emotion of joy/happiness/contentment means to each individual.

When I was in my 20s, I decided that the purpose of my life was the make the world a more beautiful place, and when I succeed in creating something that I consider beautiful, I feel joy. I can understand finding joy in one's family, but I have not been able to do that. I do think that people who have good families are very lucky, especially if one's children turn out well. Unfortunately, that did not happen for my sister, and her one child was diagnosed as a psychopath/sociopath, and she was told that there is no cure for this. Sadly, this makes me glad that I never had children, although my brother ended up with nice children, and I do like one niece very much.

My joy isn't really joy, it's the random unexpected moments when I think "this makes me happy". I don't actively pursue joy but I try to be aware when it happens.

Some recent "this makes me happy" moments. An impromptu walk on the beach with my family on Christmas Day looking for shark's teeth. A charming waitress who served me a great soup and warm bread and a really cold beer. A good friend and I making candles and me concocting the perfect combination of fragrances.

I have been watching "The Art of Tidying Up" on Netflix, where Marie Kondo asks participants to hold objects that they want to keep to find if the item "sparks joy". Hmm, for me it really is rarely things or objects that bring me joy, rather it is experiences, usually being with people I love doing things we enjoy together.

I will say that sometimes seeing a beautiful rug or painting or a dress gives me the "this makes me happy" feeling. It's not about having the thing, it's about the admiration for the design and workmanship.

Time with DH whatever we are doing, walking dogs, having nature excursions, dinner with family, dancing! Also beautiful to me artwork and things going well for an extended period of time. That happened last year several times. :-).

It really is nice to look at your bank account and realize you can cover all of your bills. Plus have a little bit of extra financial wiggle room. Not sure if that is Joy or happiness. Either way it just feels good.

Ida gave a great definition of what I consider joy.

Some happy moments, besides the ones relating to family and friends include porch/deck/outside lounging, the smell and sounds of summer, (That DOES include lawn mowers.) sun, when the clouds in the sky are very dimensional in color and even better if they’re fast moving. Watching the ocean. Cold Coke right from the can chasing a slice of cheese pizza. I have a soft spot for cats but enjoy being around animals in general.

This for one:

I have found that walking 15 - 20 miles a day while carrying everything that I need on my back, and sleeping in a hostel with 20 snoring strangers brings me joy.

My crazy ol' rescue dog brings me joy.

My chickens bring me joy. And, eggs. I just love watching them and listening to them. Two of my cats bring me joy (the third hates humans). Cooking a new recipe, especially Asian, and having it work out wonderfully. Watching the sun rise from my deck over a cup of coffee or tea. A really good book, when I come to the end and am touched by how it concludes, as well as how it was written during the process of reading.

I definitely agree with "those rare moments when you meet someone and you click.".

Gardening. Going off into the woods and finding a nice rock or log to sit on, and just contemplate with the Ents.