There's a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is typically a (more) fleeting emotion, one tied to a particular set of circumstances. We get an ice cream cone we wanted. We're happy. We get married like we wanted. We're happy. You get the idea. But JOY - joy is a more long-lasting state of being, characterized by contentment and satisfaction with life overall. And one thing to remember in trying to cultivate joy is this: joy is MARRIED to gratitude. It's not that joy makes us grateful - it's that gratitude makes us joyful.