Do you know what tears of joy mean? You might have shed tears sometimes while you were very happy and wondered why you were crying out in happiness.
Crying when sad is a common occurrence. Everyone should have cried at some point in their lives, yet it may seem very strange to break down in tears when you are happy. Yes, it is very confusing for some people and most times, it can’t be controlled. It is simply an emotional response; when one is overcome with emotions, the eyes water in response and if it’s a joyous emotion, it is called tears of joy.
People shed tears of joy on different occasions: a friend gets married, a couple finally gets pregnant after years of trying, a new baby is born, you get accepted into your dream school, you got a new job after being unemployed for years, you aced a test, you got proposed to, you got a new car, your loved one finally got well and discharged from the hospital and numerous others. At such moments, people cry tears of joy, such that even people watching weep too because the joy is contagious.
Tears of joy Meaning with experiences from people
Different things happen in our lives that make us shed tears of joy. At such points, our feelings override each other and we are left with no mode of expression other than crying. Crying releases pent-up emotions and helps regulate our feelings.
Though we are not so sure how or why it happens, some research by scientists and psychologists has given us a bit of an explanation.
Psychologist Oriana Aragon said that years of joy seem to take place when people are overwhelmed with strong positive emotions and people who do this seem to recover better from these strong emotions.
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Tears of joy mean tears of happiness and a feeling of finality
Studies show that women are more likely to cry tears of happiness than men. Tears of happiness are usually shed at moments like a breakthrough for which one has been waiting for a long time. It is a cry of “finally, my problems are over” or “I have a baby sister,” etc.
An instance is Justina’s experience: “I cried when my boyfriend proposed to me. We’ve been dating for five years. I knew he loved me but I thought he would never ask because he didn’t want to get married. It was the best day of my life.”
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Tears of joy are reminders of the bitter-sweetness of life
Because tears are normally a response to pain, not joy, and joy is normally expressed with happy dances, not tears, tears of joy are a bittersweet emotion and serve as a reminder that life is filled with paradoxes. We can be happy, crying, or laughing, yet sad.
“Happy tears is such an irony, I know, but it’s all I can say as an explanation for why I’ve been crying since I heard that I got a job. I can’t just seem to jump for excitement because I know how far I’ve come. It wasn’t an easy walk. So these happy tears are the emotions I feel,” explained James when he was asked why he cried after reading his appointment email.
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Tears of joy mean tears of excitement
A person can cry tears of joy when they achieve something important or overcome an obstacle.
Tara shared her experience in a tete-a-tete: “I was denied a visa for 3 years to visit my mom, and she was really sick. The day I was finally accepted, I screamed so much that I broke down in tears. I was so excited but tears were all I could shed.
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Tears of joy mean tears of fulfillment and gratitude
Watching two people make a commitment to each other in front of their friends and families, listening to a friend perform for the first time in front of a crowd, or finally attending a long-awaited concert can make one shed tears of joy, which means that the person’s joy is pure and sincere.
Bisi’s said, “I cried silently when I got accepted into college. My mom could not understand it. She wanted me to jump for joy but I just couldn’t.”
Jane also had a similar experience: “I’ve always wanted to visit Disneyland. When my boyfriend bought me a ticket, I broke down in tears. It was a dream come true for me.”
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Tears of joy mean beautiful memories
One can cry tears of joy when they remember or are reminded of something really beautiful that happened in their lives. It can be seeing beautiful scenery or remembering a line from your favorite book, movie, or song.
For instance, Hilary said, “Crying tears of joy is easy to understand. You have found something so heartwarming, joyful, or inspiring that you can cry the tears, but not from sadness but from joy. Yes, I have experienced this when I have had grateful moments, beautiful moments, or have watched heartwarming or inspiring movies.”
It can also mean recalling a fond memory of a loved one, especially when you miss the person.
Peter, a father, also recounted his experience: “I stopped in the hallway to admire my daughter and me in a portrait; it wasn’t long till I felt my cheeks wet. You see, my daughter is a travel nurse so she doesn’t spend much time at home but seeing her pictures brings back beautiful memories of us having so much fun.”
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Tears of joy mean tears of amusement
Many people shed tears of joy when they’ve laughed so hard at something funny. This kind of crying usually occurs during a comedy show. The talks and conversations are so funny that people laugh to the point of tears, or a friend, colleague, or even stranger says something so funny that everyone laughs to tears.
The experience of Tunde proves a point here. “I attended a comedy show once and I never thought I would laugh to the point of wetting my cheeks. It was kind of embarrassing but blissful. I guess this is what’s called tears of joy because I don’t know how to label these tears.”
On a final note
I think everyone has shed tears of joy at some point in their lives. Tears of joy can be shed at any time, at any place, by any person. You might be grateful, happy, or excited about something, and it just rolls down your cheek. Let it be; just like Vanessa said, “it is when you are totally overtaken by the joy you feel.” It’s as simple as that.
