First of all, what is joy? Joy is a deep, uplifting emotion that comes when we experience something profoundly meaningful, beautiful, or fulfilling. Unlike fleeting happiness (which can come from small pleasures like a nice meal or a funny joke), joy tends to run deeper, it is tied to connection, love, gratitude, hope, or even a sense of awe.

As for why it can bring a tear to your eye, emotions aren’t neatly separated in our brains. Joy can overwhelm us in the same way sadness does, flooding the body with physical responses, like a lump in the throat, goosebumps, or tears. Tears of joy often happen when we feel something so intensely positive that it overflows, like seeing someone you love succeed or hearing a piece of music that stirs your soul.

I cried tears of joy at my sisters’ weddings, all three of them. I was caught totally unawares with my first sister to be married and had no idea that it could stir that kind of emotion. It was a real happy and proud moment for them to succeed in life and move onto the next chapter of their lives. A really lovely and emotional time.